Chhath Puja Rush: 650 Special Trains & AI Surveillance Deployed
Indian Railways deploys 650 special trains and AI-enabled CCTV to manage Chhath Puja crowds. Check schedules and safety guidelines here.
Indian Railways has launched a massive operational blitz to manage the expected surge of passengers during the Chhath Puja festival, which extends through November 11, 2026. To handle the record-breaking crowds, the national carrier is running 650 special trains this year, a significant jump from the 400 trains operated during the previous season.
Massive Boost in Train Capacity
In addition to the new special services, authorities have added 25 percent extra coaches to existing trains to boost overall capacity. The Northern Railway region is seeing a major ramp-up in services. For instance, on November 11, 31 special trains are scheduled to operate from the Delhi region, following a busy schedule of 27 trains the previous day.
Neeraj Upadhyay, CPRO of Northern Railway, confirmed that operations are being monitored continuously, and more services may be added based on real-time demand.
High-Tech Crowd Management and War Rooms
To ensure passenger safety and smooth movement, the railways are turning to advanced technology. Over 700 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been deployed for real-time crowd monitoring. Furthermore, dedicated 'war rooms' have been established at railway headquarters in Hajipur and Rail Bhawan in New Delhi to maintain 24-hour surveillance of passenger flow and operational status.
Specialized Holding Areas at Major Hubs
To prevent platform overcrowding, specialized holding areas have been constructed at several key transit hubs, including:
- New Delhi
- Anand Vihar Terminal
- Patna Junction
- Ranchi
- Varanasi
This coordinated effort involves the Northern Railway, East Central Railway (ECR), South East Railway (SER), and the Railway Protection Force (RPF/RPSF).
Important Safety Directives for Travelers
Railway authorities have issued strict instructions to ensure a safe journey for all devotees:
- Use Holding Areas: Passengers are advised to wait in designated holding areas rather than crowding the platforms prematurely.
- Verify Schedules: Always check train timings via official apps or helplines.
- Prohibited Items: Carrying inflammable items or firecrackers on railway premises is strictly forbidden.
- Identity Proof: All passengers with reserved tickets must carry a valid government-issued ID at all times.