With Ganeshotsav approaching, extensive railway arrangements are being made to manage the annual rush of passengers travelling from Mumbai to their hometowns in the Konkan region. More than 1.13 lakh passengers have already booked tickets on special trains, reflecting strong demand for additional services during one of Maharashtra’s busiest annual travel periods. So far, tickets have been booked by 1,13,428 passengers on special trains from Mumbai, generating ₹7.77 crore in revenue for the Railways. Heavy demand has been witnessed since reservations were opened, with several trains being filled within minutes and many passengers now depending on waiting-list tickets.
A substantial number of additional services have been planned to accommodate the festive movement. Central Railway will operate 200 reserved special trips and 62 unreserved trips between August 27 and September 26. Bookings for 1,10,523 passengers have already been recorded on its reserved services, generating revenue of ₹6.23 crore.
Additional connectivity is being provided by Western Railway, which will operate 54 reserved special trips between September 7 and September 26. So far, bookings have been made by 2,905 passengers on these services, generating ₹1.54 crore. Further capacity is expected to be provided wherever required. Extra coaches could be attached to selected trains depending on passenger demand, which could improve the chances of waiting-list tickets being confirmed. Unreserved special trains have also been planned as an alternative for passengers unable to secure confirmed reservations.
Additional arrangements are being put in place at busy railway stations and along the Konkan route. Security, cleanliness, ticket checking and crowd management are being strengthened for the peak travel period. Temporary reservation counters have also been opened at selected locations, while additional Railway Protection Force personnel and railway staff are expected to be deployed to manage crowds and facilitate orderly boarding.
Ganeshotsav traditionally witnesses substantial passenger movement between Mumbai and Konkan, as thousands of people living and working in the metropolitan region return to their hometowns for the celebrations. Regular trains frequently become fully booked during this period, making reserved and unreserved special services important for handling the additional passenger load.
Meanwhile, a separate clarification has been issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over information circulating about Ganesh idols ahead of Ganeshotsav 2026. Reports and social media messages claiming that fitness certificates would be compulsory for large Ganesh idols, including those weighing more than one tonne, have been denied by the civic body. Claims that idol makers and Ganpati mandals would be required to maintain detailed records tracking idols from construction until delivery have also been rejected. The BMC clarified that no such mandatory requirements or instructions have been introduced or finalised.
Citizens have been advised to rely on information released through official civic channels rather than unverified messages circulating online as preparations for Ganeshotsav intensify across Mumbai.
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