The Indian Railways has announced special train services in Madhya Pradesh to accommodate the expected surge in passenger traffic ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 retest. However, the schedule of one such service has drawn criticism after it emerged that the return journey is set to begin before candidates even appear for the examination. Lakhs of students are set to take the NEET-UG 2026 retest on Sunday after the original examination held on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak.

To facilitate travel for candidates and their families, railway authorities introduced a special train connecting Indore and Bhopal, two major centres in the state. According to the official schedule, the Indore-Bhopal special train departed Indore at 11:25 am on Saturday and was scheduled to reach Bhopal at 7 pm after halting at Fatehabad, Badnagar, Ratlam, Nagda, Ujjain, Maksi, Shujalpur, Sehore and Sant Hirdaram Nagar.

While the service enables candidates to reach Bhopal a day before the examination, concerns have been raised over the lack of arrangements for their return journey after the test. The same train is scheduled to depart Bhopal at 7:40 pm on Saturday and arrive in Ratlam about five hours later, nearly a full day before the NEET retest begins. Since the examination is scheduled from 2 pm to 5:15 pm on Sunday, students and parents have questioned how the service addresses their travel needs after the exam concludes.

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Critics argue that the timing appears disconnected from the purpose for which the special train was introduced. Responding to the concerns, senior railway official Saurabh Kataria said the special train was being operated to manage the anticipated rush of passengers, particularly NEET candidates and their accompanying family members. He maintained that the arrangement was intended to facilitate travel and reduce pressure on regular services.

However, questions remain over whether additional trains or return services will be provided after the examination. Another issue raised by students and parents relates to ticket pricing. The sleeper class fare on the special train has been fixed at Rs 350, considerably higher than fares on regular services operating on the same route. For comparison, the Jodhpur-Bhopal Express charges around Rs 150 for a sleeper-class ticket, while the Malwa Express charges approximately Rs 180.

Candidates travelling from cities such as Ujjain to Bhopal could therefore end up paying more than double the usual fare. The combination of higher ticket prices and the absence of a post-exam return arrangement has prompted criticism from aspirants and their families, who argue that special services should be designed around the practical requirements of students appearing for one of the country's most competitive entrance examinations.

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