Hyderabad: As Sankranti approaches in just two weeks, South Central Railway (SCR) has yet to announce special trains, leaving thousands of passengers uncertain about their travel plans.
Many working professionals and families, planning their annual hometown visits, are anxiously awaiting updates on special services. The festival typically sees a large exodus from the twin cities to various destinations in Andhra Pradesh, with SCR traditionally running 150 special trains on key routes such as Visakhapatnam, Narsapur, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Tirupati, Anakapalle, and Vijayawada.
This year, however, the overlap with Kumbh Mela 2025 (Jan 13 – Feb 26) in Prayagraj has complicated resource allocation, affecting both train availability and crew deployment. As a result, the absence of additional trains has driven up ticket prices for alternative transport, particularly bus services. For example, TGSRTC fares from Hyderabad to Vizag have surged from 1,313 to 1,900 for the Sankranti season.
“Almost 17 regular trains between Hyderabad and Rajahmundry have reached full occupancy. The situation is challenging as IRCTC suspended bookings for January 11, 12, and 13 due to the waiting list exceeding the limit. Meanwhile, RTC has set bus fares at nearly 2,000. The introduction of special trains by SCR would help us make our travel arrangements,” said N Pravalika Rao, a private bank employee.
SCR operates over 100 trains to AP, particularly towards coastal regions. However, sleeper and AC class tickets for the busy festival period of Jan 10-12 were booked four months in advance. Trains to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, and West Bengal passing through Andhra Pradesh are also heavily occupied, with waiting lists stretching for thousands of tickets.
“Due to Kumbh Mela, the announcement of special trains for Sankranti has been delayed. However, we plan to augment services by adding extra coaches to existing trains to accommodate passengers on the waiting list. Please note that a ‘regret’ status on tickets means the waiting list has reached its maximum limit, and no further confirmations are possible,” said a SCR official.
