New Delhi: Ahead of the Chhath festival, North Eastern Railway (NER) has announced 145 special puja trains to manage the surge of passengers, with services continuing until all travelers return after the festivities. Out of these, 95 trains will originate from NER stations.
Chief Public Relations Officer of NER, Pankaj Kumar Singh, said special arrangements have been made considering both Diwali and Chhath festivals. “Nearly two lakh passengers travelled in the last 24 hours during Diwali. These special trains will operate continuously after Chhath until everyone has safely returned,” he said.
Passenger management measures have been implemented at major stations, including designated holding areas equipped with additional lighting, train display boards, public address systems, and RO facilities. Security has also been strengthened with increased deployment of personnel.
Meanwhile, North Western Railway (NWR) has also ramped up services for the festive season, operating 44 pairs of special trains to high-demand destinations such as Mumbai, Pune, Howrah, and Bihar. Extra coaches have been added to nearly 60 regular trains, and volunteers along with Railway Protection Force staff have been deployed at stations to manage crowds and ensure smooth travel. Holding areas have been set up at busy stations like Jaipur to reduce platform congestion.
The Indian Railways has warned against the circulation of misleading or old videos on social media related to train operations. Over 20 accounts sharing such content have been identified, and FIRs are being filed. A 24×7 monitoring system has been put in place to curb misinformation.
Passengers are urged to rely only on official Railway notifications and verified social media accounts of the Ministry of Railways @RailMinIndia on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for accurate updates on train operations and crowd management.
These measures aim to ensure that passengers can travel safely and comfortably during the busy festival season.
