Pune: In a historic development, the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference is set to take place in Delhi this February after nearly 70 years. Recognizing the importance of this event, the Pune division of Indian Railways has arranged a special train to cater to literary enthusiasts traveling to the national capital.

The special train will operate in sleeper class, and passengers can book their journey for a fare of ₹1,500. However, the Ministry of Railways has decided not to provide any fare concessions for this service. The fare is approximately three times the regular ticket price, but efforts were made to ensure that literary enthusiasts could attend the conference without facing difficulties.

The train will depart from Pune on February 19 and will reach Delhi on February 20. After the conclusion of the conference, the return journey will begin on the night of February 23, with the train arriving in Pune on February 24.

The demand for this special service was raised by Sarhad Pune organisation, and it was approved despite challenges like the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela and other operational difficulties. Union Minister and conference secretary Murlidhar Mohal played a key role in securing approval from the Ministry of Railways.

This announcement comes shortly after a special train was operated from Pune to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on January 15 and will continue for a month, attracting large numbers of devotees.