Delhi Stations: New Parcel & Platform Ticket Rules for Diwali Rush
Northern Railway restricts parcel services and platform ticket sales at Delhi stations to manage Diwali and Chhath Puja passenger surges.
To ensure passenger safety and manage the massive surge of travelers during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, Northern Railway has announced temporary restrictions on parcel services and platform ticket sales across major stations in Delhi.
According to Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, these operational adjustments are vital for effective crowd control during the high-traffic festive season.
Parcel Service Suspensions at Key Delhi Stations
Major hubs including New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, and Delhi Junction will see significant changes to their parcel operations to prevent congestion and ensure smoother passenger movement.
- Loading and Unloading: All types of parcel activities—including leased SLRs, leased VPs, demand VPs, and advance VPs—will be suspended from November 5 to November 15, 2026.
- Departmental Bookings: Booking for departmental parcels at these three stations will be restricted from November 3 to November 15, 2026.
Strict Measures at Hazrat Nizamuddin
Hazrat Nizamuddin station will face even stricter measures to manage the holiday rush. Both departmental parcel booking and all loading and unloading activities will be completely halted from November 5 to November 8, 2026.
However, certain essential operations will remain unaffected, such as parcel loading and unloading at the Hazrat Nizamuddin VP siding and the washing and stabling lines at Anand Vihar Terminal.
Platform Ticket Sales to be Halted
In a move to prevent overcrowding on station platforms, the sale of platform tickets will be suspended at six major stations in Delhi. This restriction is scheduled to take place from November 3 to November 14, 2026.
Broader Festive Management Strategy
These measures are part of a comprehensive strategy by Indian Railways to handle the seasonal rush effectively. Alongside these restrictions, the railway network is deploying thousands of special train trips nationwide to assist passengers traveling during the festive period.