LUCKNOW, Oct. 16 -- With all trains, including special festive ones, running out of seats and flight fares beyond the reach of most, thousands of people working across Uttar Pradesh are hitting the road this Diwali-Chhath season. Pooling cars and SUVs with friends or colleagues, and booking cars through online car pooling App services has emerged as the most practical and affordable alternative for many who are desperate to reach their hometowns in Bihar and eastern UP.

The growing network of expressways, including the Purvanchal, Agra-Lucknow, and Bundelkhand Expressways, has made road travel faster, safer, and more reliable encouraging many to ditch trains and buses for shared road journeys. Coupled with digital platforms like BlaBlaCa...