Six-Year Wait Continues: Mithila Samaj Pune Seeks Daily Pune-Darbhanga Express
Reported By Amit Singh
Pune, 23rd August 2025: The Mithila Samaj Sanstha, Pune, has reiterated its long-standing demand to increase the frequency of the Pune-Darbhanga Express (Train No. 11033/11034) from weekly to daily service, citing severe overcrowding and the growing needs of the Mithilanchal community in Pune.
A delegation of the Mithila Samaj Sanstha recently met Darbhanga MP Gopal Thakur in Delhi and raised concerns over the difficulties faced by thousands of students, working professionals, and families traveling between Pune and Bihar. The MP later facilitated meetings with the Minister of State for Railways and the Chairman of the Railway Board, where the delegation submitted a formal letter.
According to official Central Railway data, the train recorded an average occupancy of 147.34% between April 1 and July 31, 2025. Coach-wise occupancy figures show Second AC at 124.23%, Third AC at 141.52%, and Sleeper Class at 151.43%, reflecting demand far exceeding capacity.
The Pune-Darbhanga Express covers nearly 1,947 km across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Operating once a week, it departs Pune every Wednesday at 16:15 and reaches Darbhanga on Friday morning, after a journey of about 38 hours. The train halts at major stations including Daund, Ahmednagar, Manmad, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Chhapra, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur.
Efforts to increase the frequency of the service began in 2019, when the DRM office in Pune forwarded the demand to the headquarters for consideration. Since then, community representatives have consistently pursued the request, highlighting the socio-economic importance of the route and its role as a crucial transport link for people from Bihar residing in Pune.
