PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 25: To facilitate the travel of devotees during the auspicious month of Shrawan, South Eastern Railway has announced the operation of Shrawani Festival Special trains between Gondia and Madhupur.
The Up and Down trains are expected to provide significant relief to the large number of Kanwariyas and pilgrims travelling to Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar during the auspicious month of Shravan.
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Schedule of Operations
08855 Gondia–Madhupur Special will run every Friday and Monday from July 11 to August 4, departing Gondia at 12:30 PM and reaching Madhupur at 12:30 PM the following day.
08856 Madhupur–Gondia Special will run every Saturday and Tuesday from July 12 to August 5, departing Madhupur at 1:30 PM and arriving Gondia at 5:00 PM the next day.
Major Stoppages (within SER jurisdiction): Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar, Kharagpur, Andul.
The special train aims to manage the surge in passenger traffic during the Shrawani Mela, a month-long religious observance drawing lakhs of pilgrims from across the country, especially towards Baidyanath Dham, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
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Devotees appreciated the move, saying, “These trains are a blessing for those of us travelling long distances with our kanwars. It makes our spiritual journey smoother and safer.”
Railway officials have urged passengers to plan their journeys in advance and follow safety protocols during the busy festive season.
