Gujarat’s Only Train to Arunachal Pradesh Goes Fully Reserved as Inner Line Permit Rules Kick In
Ahmedabad: The only direct train connecting Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh will run as a completely reserved service starting August 5, with no general tickets available, as authorities enforce Inner Line Permit (ILP) regulations mandated for travel into the northeastern state.
The Inner Line Permit system, put in place to ensure strict security and legal compliance in Arunachal Pradesh, has made adherence to travel rules compulsory for passengers. In response, Western Railway has decided to make a significant change to the coach composition of the Hapa-Naharlagun-Hapa Special Train, Gujarat’s only train service to the region. The new arrangement will remain in effect from August 5 to November 7, 2026.
What’s Changing on the Train
According to Senior DCM Sunil Kumar Meena, the four general coaches and the unreserved coach attached with the luggage van on the Hapa-Naharlagun-Hapa train will be removed with immediate effect. In their place, fully reserved second-class coaches will be added instead. The train’s total complement of 21 LHB coaches, however, will remain unchanged. For the entire four-month period, the train will operate purely as a “reserved train,” and no general tickets will be issued.
The Inner Line Permit is an official travel document, similar to a passport, issued by the Government of India. It grants temporary permission to enter select areas of India’s northeast, and is required for anyone travelling there. The system, which dates back to the British colonial era, was originally introduced to protect national resources and maintain security arrangements. It is currently strictly enforced in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in the northeastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.
Gujarat’s Only Direct Train Link to Arunachal, 3,188 Km Away
The Hapa-Naharlagun-Hapa Special Train is a unique long-distance service providing Gujarat’s only direct rail link to northeast India. Starting in Gujarat, the train passes through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam before entering Arunachal Pradesh. Covering a distance of 3,188 kilometres, it halts at a total of 84 railway stations across seven states, including Gujarat. For the convenience of passengers, advance booking for travel between August 5 and September 16 opened today, August 2.