railways-boosts-coordination-with-war-rooms-for-festive-surge

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a comprehensive review of the nationwide festive season passenger movement through the Railway Board War Room, emphasising real-time coordination across various station divisions and railway zones to ensure smooth operations during the high-demand period.

Vaishnaw elaborated that war rooms have been established at multiple levels—Division, Zone, and Railway Board—with live feeds streaming from stations nationwide to monitor operations closely. Additionally, mini control rooms have been set up at major stations to address immediate requirements, such as the deployment of additional trains and other operational necessities, ensuring efficient management of passenger flow.

He highlighted that Indian Railways has leveraged data-driven modelling based on previous years’ travel demand to anticipate and address the festive season rush. As part of these efforts, approximately 10,700 reserved special train services and 3,000 unreserved special services have been deployed to accommodate the surge in passengers. Vaishnaw also noted that a second peak in passenger movement is anticipated between October 22 and 24, prompting heightened preparedness across the railway network.

 

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To further facilitate passenger convenience, a permanent holding area has been made operational at New Delhi Railway Station. This facility, designed to accommodate over 7,000 people, is equipped with essential amenities, including separate toilets for men and women, automatic ticket vending machines, ticket counters, and free water dispensers, ensuring a comfortable experience for travellers during peak times.

In a related development, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu visited Ambala Cantt station to personally inspect the special arrangements put in place by Indian Railways to manage the festive season rush, underscoring the government’s commitment to passenger welfare.

 

 

Indian Railways has announced plans to operate 1,205 special trains over the next four days to meet the travel demand associated with Chhath Puja. Additionally, 2,220 special train services have been scheduled specifically for Bihar during the October–November period to alleviate the pressure of the festive rush and ensure smoother connectivity for travellers heading to the region.

Data from Delhi’s major railway stations indicates a significant increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year. On October 21, a total of 1,69,986 unreserved outward travellers boarded trains, marking a 5.6 per cent rise compared to the same day last year. The following day, October 22, saw 1,71,753 passengers, reflecting a 7.0 per cent increase over the corresponding day in the previous year, highlighting the growing demand for rail travel during the festive season.

Passengers have voiced their appreciation for the enhanced services, improved cleanliness, and overall arrangements made by Indian Railways to manage the festive surge effectively. In a notable display of passenger care, a pregnant woman at New Delhi Railway Station who went into labour received immediate assistance from railway staff and was promptly escorted to a hospital. Indian Railways cited this incident as a testament to its commitment to prioritising passenger well-being and ensuring prompt support during emergencies.

 

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