SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 30: All India Congress Committee (AICC) member and Jharkhand Congress vice-president Brajendra Prasad Singh has accused Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw of failing to deliver on his assurance of providing adequate facilities for passengers during the festive season.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Singh alleged that the minister had promised smooth travel arrangements for passengers during Diwali and Chhath, but the railways completely failed to manage the heavy rush.
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“Due to lack of seats and space, passengers were forced to travel near toilets in trains while heading to their destinations for the festivals and are now facing the same difficulties while returning,” he said.
Singh, who also serves as chairman of the Jharkhand State Congress Disciplinary Committee, added that after the completion of Chhath, people are anxious to return to their workplaces as seats are unavailable on most trains.
“This is not confined to any one station in Bihar or Jharkhand — the problem persists nationwide. Even airfares from Ranchi or Patna to Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai have soared beyond ₹21,000,” he noted.
The Congress leader further said that the Railways Minister had earlier announced the operation of 1,200 special trains to cater to festive crowds, but most of them never materialized. “Passengers had to travel on train gates and ladders, just like in previous years. If there was no concrete arrangement, why did the minister mislead people with false assurances?” Singh questioned.
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Urging the ministry to learn from the chaos, Singh appealed to the Railways Minister to begin preparations early for the 2026 festive season to prevent a repeat of such hardships for passengers.