The minister said Indian Railways had analysed passenger travel patterns over the past 10 years to identify the cities from which the highest number of people travel during festivals and the destinations witnessing the greatest demand. Based on this data, the Railways prepared a route-wise plan to determine the number of trains required and identify routes where additional services would be necessary.
Highest Number of Special Trains Operating Today
Vaishnaw said experience from previous years had shown that passenger traffic is higher around Dhanteras than on Diwali itself. Accordingly, additional special trains have been arranged this year to accommodate the increased number of passengers travelling around Dhanteras.
Similarly, passenger numbers tend to rise sharply around three days before Chhath Puja, following Diwali. The Railways has also taken this travel pattern into account while planning additional services.
The minister said the objective was to learn from the experience of every festive season and improve arrangements for passengers in subsequent years. He added that passenger numbers across the railway network were continuously increasing and that work was underway to expand facilities in line with the growing demand.
Dedicated Holding Area Set Up for Passengers
Explaining the arrangements at New Delhi Railway Station, Vaishnaw said a large holding area had been created for passengers holding reserved tickets.
Earlier, the station had six separate entry gates, which often caused confusion among passengers about which gate they should use. The entry arrangements have now been consolidated, with a dedicated holding area established to manage passenger movement more effectively.
Previously, luggage screening and other essential facilities were located inside the station. These facilities have now been shifted outside, creating more open and convenient ticketing and waiting areas within the station. According to the minister, the revised arrangement is benefiting passengers by making the station's internal areas more accessible.
New Delhi Railway Station handles more than five lakh passengers daily on normal days. During the festive season, however, the daily passenger count increases to approximately eight lakh. Vaishnaw said Friday was also a particularly busy day in terms of passenger movement, requiring extensive arrangements to manage the large crowds.
Additional Staff and Crowd Management Measures in Place
To control the festive rush, Indian Railways has introduced several measures, including additional special trains, increased deployment of railway personnel and dedicated holding areas.
Vaishnaw said the objective was to minimise waiting time and help passengers reach their respective trains as quickly as possible. Railway authorities are monitoring crowd movement and taking immediate measures wherever congestion is observed.
The minister said officials were keeping track of where crowds needed to be regulated, where passengers should be redirected and where additional arrangements were required to prevent congestion.
Similar holding areas have also been established at several major railway stations across the country, and the minister said these facilities were delivering positive results.
Vaishnaw further stated that approximately 12,000 special trains had operated during last year's festive season. Several of those services were subsequently converted into regular trains.
With approximately 18,000 special trains planned for this year's Diwali, Chhath and Durga Puja season, the Railways is relying on historical passenger data, expanded station facilities and additional personnel to manage the seasonal increase in passenger movement.
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