Agartala, Nov 8 : The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has introduced special train services on key routes in Tripura to facilitate the movement of thousands of devotees expected to visit the historic Tripurasundari Temple at Matabari during the three-day Diwali festival.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring convenient transportation for pilgrims travelling from different parts of the state to the renowned shrine at Udaipur in Gomati district, one of the country’s revered Shakti Peethas.
Welcoming the move, Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury described the additional services as a timely and people-centric initiative, saying these would make festival travel safer and more convenient for devotees.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Manik Saha and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for facilitating the special railway arrangements during one of Tripura’s largest religious gatherings.
Under the special operational plan, unreserved trains will operate on the Agartala-Sabroom and Agartala-Dharmanagar sections on November 8, 9 and 10.
On the Agartala-Sabroom route, a special service operated on November 8, departing from the state capital in the evening and returning from Sabroom later at night. Additional services have been scheduled for November 9 and 10 to provide daytime connectivity between Agartala and southern Tripura.
Similarly, special trains will run on the Agartala-Dharmanagar route on November 9 and 10 to facilitate devotees travelling from northern districts.
The trains will halt at several important stations, including Udaipur, providing easier access to the Matabari shrine. Railway authorities have arranged additional passenger capacity, including modern coaches on the Dharmanagar route, to accommodate the expected rush.
Officials said the additional services were expected to ease congestion on regular trains and provide a reliable transportation option during the festival period.
The annual Matabari Diwali festival attracts lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country and neighbouring Bangladesh. The historic temple witnesses a massive congregation during the celebrations, making crowd management and transportation major challenges for the administration.
Chowdhury expressed hope that the blessings of Maa Tripura Sundari would bring peace, prosperity and happiness to all, adding that the special railway arrangements reflected coordinated efforts to ensure a safe and comfortable pilgrimage.
