Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary met Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, requesting the operation of special trains ahead of the Chhath Puja festival to facilitate the large seasonal migration of Bihari residents back to their home state. The meeting is one of several high-level engagements during Choudhary's ongoing Delhi visit, which carries both administrative and political significance.

Special Trains and the Chhath Rush

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, CM Choudhary said: 'I came to request Railway Minister Ashwini ji to run special trains as a large number of people from Bihar return to the state to celebrate Diwali and Chhath.' He pointed to last year's precedent, noting that more than 10,000 trains were operated during the festival season, and requested a similar or greater deployment this time. Chhath Puja draws millions of Bihari workers and diaspora from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata back to Bihar every year, placing acute pressure on the railway network.

Proposed Vande Bharat Link: Sitamarhi to Ayodhya

CM Choudhary also requested the launch of a Vande Bharat train service connecting Sitamarhi in Bihar to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed route carries cultural and religious weight: according to Hindu belief, Sitamarhi is linked to the origins of Goddess Sita, while Ayodhya is revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram. A direct rail link would serve both pilgrims and the growing religious tourism corridor between the two sites.

River Silt MoU and Bihar's Development Agenda

Earlier on Tuesday, Choudhary attended a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the Centre and Bihar on the utilisation of river silt for national highway construction. Addressing the gathering, he said: 'Bihar has only two weaknesses, one is population and the other is water. Today, under the leadership of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, I am grateful for such a big agreement. Now the second biggest challenge for Bihar is water management. I assure you that after this river Sanjeevani agreement, Bihar will be economically strong.' The MoU is seen as a practical step toward leveraging Bihar's extensive riverine geography for infrastructure development.

Political Meetings: BJP Organisation in Focus

On Monday, Choudhary held separate meetings with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. A meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Vinod Tawde is also on the agenda, though its timing has not been confirmed. The two leaders are expected to discuss the BJP's organisational structure in Bihar, with a focus on strengthening grassroots cadre. Their talks may also review the recently concluded Bihar Legislative Council elections, in which the BJP contested four seats, winning two — a 50 per cent strike rate that reportedly leaves room for introspection within the party hierarchy.

Significance of the Delhi Visit

Choudhary's multi-day engagement in Delhi spans railway logistics, infrastructure agreements, and internal party matters — a breadth that analysts say reflects the dual pressures a chief minister in a coalition arrangement faces: delivering on governance while managing political organisation. Bihar's next assembly election remains a medium-term horizon, making cadre consolidation a pressing priority for the BJP in the state. With Chhath Puja approaching, the outcome of the railway request will be closely watched by millions of Bihari families across the country.