Dhanbad, Aug. 4: The Dhanbad Railway Division has proposed operating a Sawan Special train between Chopan and Bhagalpur via Dhanbad to manage the surge in passenger traffic during the ongoing holy month of Sawan, when lakhs of devotees travel to Deoghar and Sultanganj for pilgrimage.
Railway officials have forwarded the proposal to the railway headquarters for approval. If cleared, the special train is expected to improve connectivity for pilgrims travelling from Chopan and adjoining areas in Uttar Pradesh, as well as Garhwa, Latehar, Barkakana, Chandrapura and Katras in Jharkhand.
Officials said the proposed service aims to address the absence of a direct rail connection between Chopan and the pilgrimage destinations of Deoghar and Sultanganj, where thousands of devotees converge daily during the month of Sawan. The lack of an existing direct service is believed to strengthen the case for approval of the proposal.
The Dhanbad Railway Division had earlier submitted a proposal to operate a Gomoh–Jaynagar Sawan Special train, but it did not receive approval from the railway authorities.
The annual pilgrimage has witnessed heavy footfall since the commencement of the holy month of Sawan on July 30. Devotees from across the country travel to Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar to perform the Jalabhishek ritual after collecting holy water from Sultanganj.
With more than one lakh pilgrims performing the ritual every day, railway authorities have been exploring additional services to accommodate the seasonal rush and improve travel convenience for devotees.
No official statement has been issued by the railway authorities regarding the proposal, which is currently awaiting approval from the headquarters.
