Chhath Puja Rush: Special Trains Slap 1.5x Fare Surge as Migrants Scramble for Seats Home

With Diwali and the grand festival of Chhath Puja fast approaching, heading back home to eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal has turned into an agonizing ordeal for millions of migrant workers and families. All scheduled long-distance regular trains connecting key transit junctions like Moradabad to regional hubs—including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, Patna, and Kolkata—have completely exhausted their seat reservations, displaying impossible "Regret" status and overflowing waiting lists. Left with zero alternatives, homebound commuters are being forced to book premium-tagged festival special trains that charge steep surcharges of up to one and a half times regular ticket prices, all while grappling with severe punctuality delays and cramped coaches.Special Train Fare Shock: Premium Surcharges Strain Festive BudgetsIndian Railways has scheduled special festive services from October 1 through the end of November to accommodate the massive surge of passengers, yet the steep differential ticketing model has hit ordinary passengers hard:Patna Journey Fare Disparity: The 3rd AC fare from Moradabad to Patna on standard regular trains is fixed at ₹1,215, whereas festive special trains charge ₹1,545 for the exact same distance and travel class.Sleeper Class Inflation: Sleeper reservations on regular trains cost ₹455, while festive special trains inflate the ticket price to ₹545, imposing heavy financial burdens on lower-income migrant workers traveling in large family groups.Varanasi Sector Price Comparison: Regular scheduled expresses operating on the Moradabad–Varanasi corridor maintain moderate 3rd AC tariffs—such as ₹985 on the Amritsar–Howrah Mail, ₹1,000 on the Dehradun–Varanasi Express, ₹1,015 on the Begumpura Express, and ₹1,155 on the Kumbh Express. In sharp contrast, special services like the Delhi–Varanasi Special and the Firozpur Cantt–Patna Special charge a flat inflated tariff of ₹1,270.The Moradabad Transit Chokepoint: Heavy Rush for Purvanchal and Bihar RoutesMoradabad Railway Junction stands as one of the critical northern transit corridors funneling daily passengers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi toward eastern destinations:Massive Passenger Volume: Several festive specials pass through Moradabad daily, creating additional carrying capacity on paper, yet platform queues continue to swell as unreserved and waitlisted ticket holders scramble for floor space.No Guarantee of Timely Arrival: Despite charging substantial convenience and festival premiums, special trains frequently suffer from low sectional signaling priority, leading to delays ranging from several hours and disrupting arrival timelines ahead of sacred Nahay-Khay and Kharna rituals.Overcrowded Coach Corridors: Even reserved air-conditioned and sleeper coaches are overwhelmed by waitlisted ticket holders at intermediate stops, turning what should be a peaceful homecoming journey into an exhausting, high-stress trek.