Passengers planning to visit Bihar for Holi 2026 are facing a tough time as major trains are already fully booked. Premium services like Tejas Rajdhani, Sampoorna Kranti, and Garib Rath have no available seats from February 20 to March 3. The waiting lists for many of these trains have crossed the 200 mark, creating a ‘No Room’ situation for travelers. To tackle this massive rush, Indian Railways has announced 1,410 special trips, while the Bihar government will operate 200 special buses with subsidized fares starting from mid-February.
Schedule of Holi Special Trains and Fare Rules
Indian Railways will operate 1,410 special trips this year, which is a 25 percent increase compared to the 1,144 trips managed last year. Special trains like 01667/01668 (Rani Kamlapati – Danapur) and 09821/09822 (Sogaria – Danapur) have been scheduled to start from late February. Travelers should note that the fare for these special trains is approximately 30 percent higher than regular mail or express trains as they operate under the special fare category. Saraswati Chandra, CPRO of East Central Railway, confirmed that Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will see the highest number of these services to accommodate the heavy passenger flow.
- Rani Kamlapati – Danapur: Trips scheduled for February 27 and March 2.
- Sogaria (Kota) – Danapur: Trips scheduled for February 28 and March 7.
- Booking: Tickets for special trains usually open 10 to 15 days before the journey date on the IRCTC website.
- No Concessions: Senior citizens and other categories (except Divyangjan) will not receive any fare concessions on special trains.
Bihar Government Special Bus Services and Subsidy Details
For those unable to secure a train ticket even in special trains, the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) is launching 200 special buses from February 15 to March 15. These buses will connect major hubs like Delhi, Haryana, and Jharkhand to Patna and other parts of Bihar. Transport Minister Shrawan Kumar announced significant subsidies to help migrant workers and students return home affordably. The government is offering subsidies ranging from 600 to 1,000 rupees on long-distance AC bus tickets.
| Route | Service Type | Subsidized Fare | Actual Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Patna | AC Sleeper | 1,893 Rupees | 2,812 Rupees |
| Delhi to Patna | AC Seater | 1,254 Rupees | 1,873 Rupees |
| Bus Count | Delhi Route | 62 Buses | – |
| Bus Count | Haryana Route | 40 Buses | – |
Passengers are advised to use the Railway Helpline 139 or the National Train Inquiry System (NTES) to check real-time availability. Due to the high demand, travelers are also encouraged to use the Vikalp scheme during booking, which allows them to be considered for seats in other special trains if their primary ticket remains on the waiting list.
