Will Railways Operate 1,500 Extra Trains for Chhath Festivities?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 1,500 special trains will be operated over five days.
- Averaging 300 special trains per day.
- Focus on passenger safety and comfort.
- Significant increase from last year’s special train operations.
- Coordinated efforts to manage passenger crowds.
New Delhi, Oct 22 (NationPress) The Indian Railways is set to operate 1,500 special trains over the next five days, averaging 300 specials each day to accommodate the increased passenger demand during the Chhath festivities, as stated in an official release on Wednesday.
These special services will run alongside the existing regular train operations that are already in place for these routes.
"With the rise in travel demand for the Chhath festival approaching, the Indian Railways is committed to going above and beyond to ensure that every passenger reaches their destination safely and comfortably," the statement noted.
This year, Indian Railways has enhanced its special train operations for the Diwali season. In addition to the standard services, 4,493 special train trips were conducted in the past 21 days, averaging 213 trips daily, facilitating safe travel for passengers returning home for Diwali celebrations, according to the announcement.
In preparation for the upcoming Chhath Puja and the ongoing Diwali festivities, the railways are implementing a robust schedule of special trains to effectively manage the festive travel influx. Over a span of 61 days, from October 1 to November 30, more than 12,000 special trains are expected to run nationwide. To date, 11,865 trips (comprising 916 trains) have been scheduled, including 9,338 reserved and 2,203 unreserved trips, as per the release.
This represents a notable increase compared to last year, when 7,724 Puja and Diwali special trains were operated.
On October 19, the Railways handled over 36,000 passengers at Udhna Station in Gujarat — a 50 percent increase from the same date in 2024. All passengers boarded their trains by 4 p.m., ensuring they could celebrate Diwali with their families. To handle the influx, coordinated actions were taken to manage crowds, including the establishment of a dedicated holding area and multiple ticket counters for passenger convenience. In the past five days alone, over 1.2 lakh people traveled from Udhna, the statement concluded.