With the Dasara holidays approaching, Visakhapatnam is witnessing a significant increase in passenger traffic, leaving many travellers struggling to find confirmed train berths and bus seats. The festive rush has intensified as the Puja holidays coincide with a weekend, increasing demand for travel to major cities.

According to The Times of India, Howrah-bound trains are almost fully booked, with confirmed tickets unavailable on several services until the second half of November. Bengaluru-bound trains are also facing heavy demand, while routes to Chennai and Hyderabad have long waiting lists or limited availability.

 

To manage the rush, the APSRTC Visakha Region will operate more than 400 special bus services connecting Visakhapatnam with destinations including Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Saluru, Srikakulam, Rajahmundry and Tekkali.

Railway authorities are also taking steps to increase capacity. South Coast Railway is operating 16 special trains between Visakhapatnam and SMVT Bengaluru, alongside additional services on other routes. Extra air-conditioned coaches have also been added to selected trains.

 

The rush is affecting several long-distance services, including the East Coast Express, Falaknuma Express, Coromandel Express and Visakhapatnam–Bengaluru Prasanthi Express. With airfares remaining expensive for many families, trains and buses continue to be the preferred options for festival travel.

Passengers planning to travel during the holiday period should check official railway and APSRTC booking platforms for the latest availability and special-service schedules before finalising their journeys.