NEW DELHI: In anticipation of the upcoming festive season in September, the Indian Railways has revealed its plans to offer dedicated train services for Ganapati devotees this year. The Central and Western Railways are preparing to launch a total of 312 special train services. Among these, the Central Railways is set to operate 257 trains, while the Western Railways will facilitate 55 special trains. The introduction of these special train services by the Railways aims to alleviate the anticipated heavy congestion and provide convenience for commuters throughout the 10-day Ganpati festival, particularly in Mumbai and various cities across Maharashtra. As outlined in the official press release, the Central Railway is gearing up to serve over 104,000 reserved passengers, a notable increase from the approximately 90,000 passengers recorded during the 2022 Ganesh festival season. Furthermore, it has been projected that around 150,000 unreserved passengers will avail themselves of the 257 Ganpati Special train services, catering to the travel needs of the devotees during this period. This year, an additional 18 special services have been introduced, compared to the previous year's count, bringing the total unreserved services for 2023 to 94, in contrast to 32 in 2022. This strategic move by the Railways aims to ensure a smoother and more efficient travel experience for all Ganapati festival attendees. PM Gati Shakti : NPG's Recommendations for Key Infrastructure Projects Revamped Vande Bharat Train to Run on August 19: Enhanced Safety on the Tracks