Indian Railways has begun running 1,500 special trains to handle the surge of passengers heading home for the Chhath Puja. Officials said the services will operate over the next five days, averaging 300 additional trains each day across key routes.
The move is part of the Railways’ plan to manage the seasonal rush through increased connectivity and tighter crowd control. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and eastern India are expected to see the highest load of returning passengers.
Massive festive operation on track
From October 1 to November 30, over 12,000 special trips have been scheduled across the network for Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Railway data shows 11,865 trips already notified, including 9,338 reserved and 2,203 unreserved services. This is a sharp jump from 7,724 specials run during last year’s festive season.
In the past three weeks, 4,493 special trips were completed with about 213 trains a day and the numbers are expected to climb to 311 daily trips around October 25, officials said.
Managing the festive crowd
Railway zones have deployed extra staff, more ticket counters, and passenger holding areas at busy stations.
At Udhna Station in Gujarat, nearly 36,000 people boarded trains on October 19 which is a 50% rise from last year. Officials said all passengers boarded before 4 pm, and services ran on schedule.
Passengers across several zones have noted improvements in cleanliness, punctuality, and assistance for elderly travellers. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been asked to maintain constant surveillance at crowded platforms.
A senior Railway Board official said, “Every festive season tests our network. The aim is simple; no passenger should be left stranded.”
With 12,000 special trips set through November, the Railways’ push this year marks one of its biggest festive operations in recent times, carrying millions home for Chhath safely and on time.
