Vindhyachal train stoppages have been approved for 10 pairs of long-distance mail and express trains from October 11 to 26 to ease travel for pilgrims visiting the Vindhyavasini Devi temple during Navratri, the East Central Railway (ECR) said.
ECR chief public relations officer Saraswati Chandra said the temporary arrangement would provide more convenient rail access to devotees travelling to Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh during the festive period. The stoppages will apply to trains originating from or passing through areas under ECR jurisdiction.
The services included in the arrangement are the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Patliputra Express, Danapur–Bengaluru Express, Jogbani–Anand Vihar Express, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Dibrugarh Express, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Guwahati Express, Bhagalpur–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express, Howrah–Jodhpur Express, Howrah–Bikaner Express, Puri–Anand Vihar Express and Delhi–Kamakhya Express.
The temporary halts will operate in both directions, according to the railway announcement. The measure is intended to support the seasonal increase in passenger demand as large numbers of devotees travel to Vindhyachal to offer prayers at the temple during Navratri.
Chandra said the additional access would allow passengers to reach the pilgrimage centre more directly, reducing their dependence on connecting trains or other modes of transport. The arrangement is scheduled to remain in place until October 26, after which the temporary stoppages are set to end unless the railway issues a further decision.
