Rail Minister checks arrangements as passenger traffic peaks during Festive season
By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Oct 22 (BVI) With the festive season in north India peaking because of Diwali and Chhath Puja, around 4.25 lakh passengers are travelling daily, on an average, outwards from Delhi.
To cater to this annual rush, 12 lakh railway employees are working round-the-clock to ensure the passengers reached their destinations safely.
These bits of information were provided by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw who visited the New Delhi Railway Station last night and conducted an on-ground assessment of the arrangements made by the Railways for this festive season.
He interacted with some of the passengers to enquire about the facilities etc.
Later, talking to the media, he said more than 1 crore passengers have already been served by these special trains.
The Minister said major stations such as at Surat, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru are under continuous monitoring, and even trains in motion are being closely tracked.
He said every division and zone has its own war room, ensuring round-the-clock monitoring, carried out with the dedicated efforts of all railway employees.
The Union Minister visited the RPF Control Room via Platform No. 1, which monitors the entire station, and interacted with passengers to review on-ground arrangements. He also inspected the First Aid Room and interacted with the doctors on duty.
He interacted with passengers of Patna-bound Amrit Bharat Express at platform no 16 of New Delhi Railway station.
The passengers applauded and praised the arrangements made by Indian Railways for them.
The Minister also reviewed information on special trains from the Rail Bhawan War Room before visiting New Delhi Railway Station. Key instructions were issued to railway officials to ensure passenger convenience.
Indian Railways is operating 12,011 special trains during the festive season—a significant increase from 7,724 trains in 2024—to meet the sharp rise in travel demand.
In addition to regular train services, Indian Railways has successfully operated 4,211 special trains between 1st October and 20th October 2025, catering to over 1 crore passengers.
To further cater to the expected surge in passenger traffic for Diwali, and Chhath, Indian Railways plans to operate around 7800 more special trains in coming days.
Between 1st and 20th October 2025, more than 1 crore passengers have already been served by these special trains. In the New Delhi area, 21.04 lakh passengers were facilitated between 16th and 20th October 2025, as compared to 19.71 lakh passengers during the corresponding period last year — an increase of 1.33 lakh passengers.
Indian Railways is making extensive efforts to enhance passenger comfort and convenience. Passenger management has been streamlined across stations, with dedicated holding areas, additional ticket counters, potable water facilities, and clean washrooms provided to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Indian Railways has established a dedicated “War Room” at Rail Bhawan to monitor and manage the massive influx of festive travelers. This command center enables real-time monitoring and allows officials to quickly address congestion, passenger complaints, and potential incidents.
Similarly, at New Delhi Railway Station, a mini control room has been set up to closely oversea passenger arrangements, ensuring smooth operations and enhanced convenience for travelers. (BVI)
