Indian Railways has unveiled a comprehensive operational plan to assist millions of pilgrims traveling to Haridwar for the annual Kanwar Mela during the holy month of Sawan. Spanning from July 30 to August 28, 2026, these measures focus on crowd management and seamless connectivity for devotees arriving from Rajasthan, Delhi, and surrounding regions. To ensure smooth transit, the national transporter has introduced special stoppages, extended existing routes, and launched dedicated Mela special train services.
Key highlights of the Kanwar Mela railway arrangements include:
- Temporary two-minute stoppages at Raiwala, Motichur, and Jwalapur stations for key express trains.
- Introduction of 49 pairs of trains with 135 additional coaches to manage increased passenger volume.
- Extension of Delhi-Shamli and Delhi-Saharanpur services up to Haridwar.
- Operation of dedicated unreserved Mela special trains between Haridwar, Yog Nagari Rishikesh, and Delhi Shahdara.
Enhanced Connectivity and Special Stoppages
North Western Railway has implemented temporary two-minute halts for four major trains from July 30 to August 13, 2026. These include the Okha-Dehradun (19565) and Dehradun-Okha (19566) weekly expresses, as well as the daily Sriganganagar-Rishikesh (14815) and Rishikesh-Sriganganagar (14816) services. Furthermore, North Railway has announced 14 special stoppages and the addition of 135 extra coaches across 49 train pairs to accommodate the surge in footfall.
Route Extensions and Mela Specials
To further ease travel, the Delhi-Shamli Passenger (DMU) and Delhi-Saharanpur MEMU services will be extended to Haridwar from July 30 to August 14, 2026. The Moradabad Division is also playing a significant role by operating six special trains and extending the routes of four existing services. Additionally, four pairs of unreserved Mela Special trains will operate between July 30 and August 29, specifically connecting Haridwar and Yog Nagari Rishikesh with Delhi Shahdara.
Passenger Advisory
Beyond rail infrastructure, the Uttar Pradesh government is coordinating with neighboring states to provide additional bus services and a 24×7 control room to monitor the Yatra. Railway authorities urge all pilgrims to stay updated on real-time schedule changes. Travelers can obtain the latest information by dialing the railway helpline number 139, using the Rail Madad mobile application, or by visiting the official Indian Railways website.