Mumbai-Konkan Trains See 1 Lakh 13 Thousands Bookings for Ganeshotsav

Railways Earn ₹7.77 Crore From Ganpati Special Train Bookings

The upcoming Ganeshotsav 2026 is seeing a strong travel response as thousands of people from Mumbai prepare to return to their hometowns in the Konkan region. So far, 1,13,428 passengers have booked tickets on special trains from Mumbai, generating ₹7.77 crore in railway revenue.

The Railways has added special services to manage the annual festival rush, when a large number of devotees travel to Konkan to celebrate Ganeshotsav with their families.

Central and Western Railways Add Special Services

Central Railway will operate 200 reserved and 62 unreserved special train trips between August 27 and September 26. Its reserved services have already received bookings from 1,10,523 passengers, generating around ₹6.23 crore in revenue.

Western Railway will operate 54 reserved special trips between September 7 and September 26. So far, 2,905 passengers have booked tickets, bringing in approximately ₹1.54 crore in revenue.

Several services have seen reservations fill quickly after bookings opened. With demand remaining high, many passengers are currently depending on waiting-list tickets.

Extra Coaches and Unreserved Trains Planned

To meet the growing demand, railway authorities are preparing additional coaches for selected trains based on passenger requirements. The move could also improve the chances of waiting-list passengers receiving confirmed berths.

Passengers who are unable to secure reserved tickets can use the additional unreserved special services. The Railways is also making arrangements for crowd control, security, cleanliness and ticket checking at busy stations and along the Konkan route.

Temporary reservation counters have also been opened at selected locations to make ticket bookings easier for passengers.

CM Fadnavis Calls for Safe and Hygienic Ganeshotsav 2026

Along with travel arrangements, the Maharashtra government is focusing on safety, hygiene and smooth festival management.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed Ganesh mandals to follow food safety rules while preparing and distributing prasad. He asked organizers to ensure that prasad is clean, safe and free from adulteration and urged mandals to follow guidelines issued by the Food and Drug Administration.

Fadnavis also called for food safety guidance and training for mandal organizers so that minimum hygiene standards are maintained during the festival.

Faster Permissions and Better Festival Arrangements

The Chief Minister asked officials to resolve permission-related issues faced by Ganesh mandals quickly. He also directed authorities to ensure that roads used for bringing and immersing Ganesh idols are in good condition and properly lit at night.

Police have been instructed to monitor violations related to loudspeakers and firecrackers and take action where required. Mandals have also been asked to review safety arrangements, particularly during processions involving large idols.

Eknath Shinde Urges Coordination and Crowd Safety

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stressed the need for close coordination between the government, civic authorities, police and Ganesh mandals to ensure a peaceful and well-organized festival.

Shinde said civic authorities must ensure that potholes are removed from idol arrival and immersion routes. He noted that around 1,850 kilometers of roads in Mumbai have been concretized and directed authorities to maintain safe routes throughout the festival period.

He also highlighted steps toward granting longer permissions for Ganesh mandals and urged organizers to remain alert about suspicious activities or rumors circulating on social media.

Special Trains and Safety Measures Support Devotees

With special train bookings already crossing 1.13 lakh, the strong demand shows the importance of additional railway services during Ganeshotsav. At the same time, government agencies are preparing roads, public spaces, food safety systems and security arrangements to help devotees celebrate the festival safely and smoothly.

The combined efforts by the Railways, state government, civic bodies, police and Ganesh mandals are expected to support the large movement of people during Ganeshotsav 2026.