New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) The Indian Railways is proactively enhancing its operational readiness this week, deploying special trains to ensure safe, smooth, timely, and comfortable travel for passengers amid the bustling Holi festive period, according to an official announcement made on Tuesday.

During this festive season, over 5.5 million passengers journeyed from stations managed by the North Western Railway. Remarkably, around 1.1 million passengers travelled on March 1 and 2 alone, during which 21 new special trains were introduced.

Moreover, the operational duration of 30 special trains comprising 216 trips was extended to meet the rising demand in March, along with the addition of 141 extra coaches across 53 regular trains, the statement detailed.

A total of 295 trips of the newly launched special trains were scheduled for various destinations including Gorakhpur, Samastipur, Yog Nagari Rishikesh, Amritsar, Mysuru, Kakinada, Gomti Nagar, Bhavnagar Terminus, Howrah, Tirupati, Mau, Sabarmati, Danapur, Asansol, Chennai Egmore, Vadodara, and Kolkata.

In the week leading up to Holi, 54 trips of special trains were operated towards major locations such as Gorakhpur, Mysuru, Kakinada, Bhavnagar Terminus, Howrah, Tirupati, Danapur, Kolkata, Sabarmati, and Asarva, as per the statement.

To bolster passenger support, Civil Defence volunteers are being deployed at crowded stations for improved crowd control.

Structured crowd management measures have been implemented at major stations to regulate passenger flow. Holding areas and barricades were established to streamline entry, while a sufficient number of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and ticket checking staff were assigned to ensure security and order. Help desks provided assistance to passengers, and continuous announcements along with electronic display boards ensured timely updates regarding train schedules. Awareness campaigns encouraged ticket purchases via ATVMs and the RailOne App. On-duty staff remained vigilant for prompt responses as necessary.

The punctual operation of special trains was guaranteed through continuous monitoring, with regular oversight by senior officials at both headquarters and divisional levels. Additionally, 24x7 war rooms operated through coordinated inter-departmental efforts to maintain effective control and supervision during the festive rush, the statement noted.

Special trains are being run across various zones to facilitate festive travel, while systematic queue management, phased boarding, and effective crowd regulation measures are in place at major stations. Railway personnel, including RPF teams and Rail Karmayogis, are actively ensuring on-ground vigilance, supervising passenger movement, assisting elderly, divyang, and women passengers, and providing essential guidance throughout their journeys, the statement concluded.