The Indian Railway on Tuesday extended the operations of the Dhanbad-Patna-Dhanbad Festival Express for another month, till January 31, thereby providing a much needed relief to the passengers travelling between the two towns.

The train, having one First AC coach, Two 2- tier AC coaches, four 3- tier AC coaches, 9 Sleeper coaches, six general coaches, and two break vans, was initially meant for operating till November 30. Later, the services got extended for one month between December 1 to December 30, before the new announcement was made.

Senior Divisional commercial manager of Dhanbad Akhilesh Kumar Pandey told The Telegraph Online that the extended train will have the same time schedule. It will leave from Dhanabd at around 11.20 pm and reach Patna at around 5.15 am.

During its return, the train will leave Patna Junction at around 11.30 pm and will reach Dhanbad at around 5.20 am.

“The extension of the train will help the thousands of people travelling between Dhanbad and Bokaro,” Pintu Kumar Singh, member of the Zonal Railway User Consultative Committee of East Central Railway, said.

“We would also request the Railway administration to relaunch the Dhanbad-Patna Intercity Express, which runs during the day hours. It will help avoid the rush in the Ganga-Damodar Express,” Singh added.

In another development, the Railway administration said that the Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express will be relaunched from January 8, instead of January 1, from Dhanbad.

The decision has been made keeping in mind the ongoing route relay interlocking work going at Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.

The return journey of Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express however will begin from Alappuzzha on September 11.