Indian travel demand surges ahead of Diwali

The shift of Diwali to 8 November has significantly impacted the festive travel calendar in India. IRCTC recorded approximately 20 lakh bookings in a single day in early September, with many preferred train berths already exhausted due to the 120-day advance booking window.

To manage demand, Indian Railways is deploying festival specials and expanding LHB rakes from 20 to 24 coaches to provide more seating. However, travelers face rising costs in air travel, with fares on key routes—such as Bengaluru to Kolkata and Mumbai to Lucknow—increasing by 80% to 150% in the final ten days before the festival. These increases are driven by rising jet fuel costs and reduced flight frequencies on certain routes.

Regarding booking regulations, IRCTC maintains monthly limits to prevent ticket fraud. Standard accounts not linked to Aadhaar are limited to 12 tickets per month, a recent increase from the previous limit of 6. To book more than 12 tickets monthly, users must link their account with Aadhaar, ensuring at least one passenger's identity is verified in the system.