Bhopal/New Delhi: To manage the heavy passenger traffic during the Diwali season, Indian Railways has announced a special “Puja Special” train service between Rani Kamalapati (RKMP) and Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM). This move aims to provide much-needed relief and extra capacity for travelers.
Two-Day Service Scheduled
The special train will run for two trips in each direction on October 17 and October 18, 2025. Train No. 01661 will depart from Rani Kamalapati at 7:30 AM, making stops at Vidisha, Bina, VGL Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra Cantt, and Mathura before arriving at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 8:15 PM the same night.
For the return journey, Train No. 01662 will depart NZM at 9:25 PM, following the same route in reverse and reaching Rani Kamalapati at 10:50 AM the following morning. The train will comprise a total of 22 coaches across various classes.
Passengers are advised to secure reservations quickly through any computerized reservation center or the IRCTC website. Detailed schedule and halt information can be accessed via railway inquiry services like NTES or Rail Madad 139.
Railway Reservation Counters to Run on Sunday Schedule for Diwali
Rail travelers planning their Diwali journeys should note a change in reservation counter timings. On Monday, October 20, 2025, all Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters across the Bhopal Railway Division will operate on a Sunday schedule due to the Diwali and Lakshmi Puja festival.
The counters will function only from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. However, according to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr. DCM) Saurabh Kataria, unreserved ticket counters (UTS) will continue to operate as usual, ensuring smooth access to general category tickets.
For the convenience of passengers, reserved ticket booking will remain fully operational 24/7 through online platforms. Travelers can continue to book their reserved tickets without interruption via the official RailNet website or the IRCTC website and mobile app, providing a seamless alternative to physical counters during the festival.
