Chhath Puja Special: Eastern Railway Announces 984 Extra Trains
Eastern Railway announces 984 special train trips for Chhath Puja to manage crowds and ensure smooth travel across West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
To manage the massive rush of devotees during the upcoming Chhath Puja festival, Eastern Railway has announced a significant boost in services. A total of 984 special train trips have been scheduled between November 1 and November 30 to ensure that passengers can travel smoothly and comfortably.
Massive Boost in Train Services
The scale of this operation is designed to handle the heavy passenger volume expected during the festival and the subsequent return journeys. Out of the total 984 trips, Eastern Railway will directly operate 506 special trains. The remaining 478 trips are being operated by other railway zones that either originate from or pass through the Eastern Railway jurisdiction.
Crowd Management and 'Holding Areas'
With millions expected to travel, managing station congestion is a top priority. To prevent overcrowding on platforms, Eastern Railway has implemented a strategic crowd management plan. This includes the establishment of 'holding areas' at several major stations. These areas will allow passengers to wait in an organized manner, with access to the platforms being strictly controlled and only permitted when their specific train arrives.
Key stations where these holding areas have been set up include:
- Bhagalpur
- Jamalpur
- Malda Town
- Howrah
- Sealdah
- Jasidih
Comprehensive Safety Measures
The arrangements extend across major stations in West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, including Asansol, Deoghar, Kolkata, Sultanganj, and Godda. The railway is focusing on continuous monitoring of train operations and enhancing passenger safety at every level.
Eastern Railway General Manager Geetika Pandey is personally monitoring these crowd management measures to ensure effective implementation. Shivram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Eastern Railway, stated that ensuring a safe, secure, and comfortable journey is the zone's top commitment, with facilities being provided at every level of the station operations.