Bikaner Division Adds 39 Coaches for Diwali & Chhath Rush
Bikaner Division adds 39 extra coaches to 16 train pairs to manage Diwali and Chhath Puja rush. Enhanced security and crowd management in place.
To tackle the massive influx of passengers expected during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities, the North Western Railway’s Bikaner Division has rolled out a comprehensive plan to increase train capacity and tighten security. Effective November 1, 2026, the division will implement several enhancements to ensure smoother travel for holiday commuters.
Extra Coaches to Tackle Festive Waiting Lists
In a significant move to alleviate long waiting lists, the division has decided to add 39 additional coaches across 16 pairs of trains. This capacity boost specifically targets 15 key services that connect Bikaner to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Pune.
The augmented fleet includes a variety of coach types to cater to different passenger needs:
- 15 Third AC coaches
- 15 Second Sleeper coaches
- 8 General coaches
- 1 First-cum-Second AC coach
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Anurag Tripathi confirmed that these measures are a direct response to the high festive passenger volumes. Senior DCM Virendra Joshi added that the railway administration is continuously monitoring passenger loads and remains prepared to attach even more coaches if the demand necessitates it.
High-Alert Security and Safety Measures
Alongside the increase in train capacity, the division has significantly ramped up security and crowd management protocols. Under the leadership of GRP Station House Officer (SHO) Neha Rajpurोहित, authorities are conducting rigorous inspections at the Bikaner railway station and throughout the division.
Security teams are utilizing dog squads and metal detectors to screen for prohibited and hazardous items. The inspections are specifically targeting the transport of:
- Firecrackers
- Gas cylinders
- Other flammable or hazardous materials
Advanced Monitoring and Crowd Management
To maintain safety and order on platforms during peak travel times, the division has implemented several advanced management strategies:
- 24/7 Surveillance: Continuous monitoring through extensive CCTV networks.
- Dedicated War Rooms: Established to monitor real-time passenger movement across the division.
- Segregated Holding Zones: Introduced to manage passenger flow during boarding and prevent platform overcrowding.