Patna: Thousands of travelers in Bihar are stuck at railway stations after returning home to vote in the Bihar Assembly elections, as train availability is extremely limited and waiting lists exceed 250 for most long-distance journeys. In the past week, migrant workers and voters have returned to their hometowns to participate in the elections. Now that voting has concluded, they are facing difficulties in getting back to their jobs in Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, and Gujarat. Key railway stations like Patna Junction, Ara, Buxar, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur are experiencing significant crowds, with many individuals having to sleep on the platforms overnight. Ramesh Thakur, a resident of Darbhanga working in Delhi, expressed frustration, saying, “We came home only to vote.
Now we are stuck here.” He noted that the waiting list has surpassed 300 and bus fares have significantly increased. Railway officials have pointed to the surge in post-election travel coupled with the Chhath festival rush as the cause of the congestion. A senior official from the Patna Division mentioned that plans are underway to operate special trains to alleviate the situation. “Passenger load has exceeded expectations this week. Additional trains will be introduced soon,” the official stated. Additionally, bus stations are also facing high demand, with private companies charging inflated fares. Passengers report that ticket prices for routes to Delhi and Mumbai have more than doubled since the weekend.
District officials in Patna and Muzaffarpur have requested that the railways open more ticket counters and provide security to manage the large crowds. For the moment, travelers are optimistic that the situation will improve in the days ahead as more trains become available.