Delhi Stations: Platform Ticket Sales Suspended for Diwali Rush
Northern Railway suspends platform ticket sales at 6 Delhi stations from Nov 3-14, 2026, to manage Diwali and Chhath Puja crowds.
Northern Railway is implementing significant crowd management measures to handle the massive influx of passengers expected during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festive season. To ensure safety and prevent dangerous overcrowding, the railway administration has announced the suspension of platform ticket sales at six major stations across the Delhi region.
Impacted Stations and Effective Dates
The restriction on platform ticket sales will be in effect from November 3, 2026, through November 14, 2026. The following stations will be affected by this measure:
- New Delhi
- Delhi Junction (Old Delhi)
- Hazrat Nizamuddin
- Anand Vihar Terminal
- Anand Vihar Halt
- Ghaziabad
Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, confirmed that these steps are critical for regulating passenger flow and maintaining overall safety during the peak festive period.
Exemptions for Vulnerable Passengers
While general sales are suspended, the railway has made provisions for specific groups who may still require access to the platforms. Passengers assisting the following individuals can obtain platform tickets through enquiry offices:
- Elderly passengers
- Sick individuals
- Specially-abled passengers
- Illiterate passengers
- Women passengers
Strict Restrictions on Parcel Operations
To further minimize congestion, Northern Railway has imposed strict limits on parcel booking and loading activities at several key hubs.
New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, and Delhi Junction
At these major stations, departmental parcel booking will be restricted from November 3 to November 15, 2026. Additionally, the loading and unloading of all parcel types—including leased SLRs and VPs—will be strictly prohibited from November 5 to November 15, 2026.
Hazrat Nizamuddin
For Hazrat Nizamuddin, both departmental parcel booking and loading/unloading activities are scheduled to be restricted from November 5 to November 8, 2026. However, certain exceptions remain for loading and unloading activities at the Hazrat Nizamuddin VP siding.
Note: Exceptions also apply to loading and unloading at the Anand Vihar Terminal washing and stabling lines.
Enhanced Security and Crowd Control
To bolster safety during this high-traffic period, Northern Railway has deployed approximately 1,000 additional security personnel across major stations in the Delhi-NCR area. Furthermore, the railway has established designated holding zones to systematically regulate platform access and manage the movement of passengers more effectively.