Indian Railways increases security and upgrades passenger amenities ahead of festive season
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held a comprehensive safety and operations review meeting at Rail Bhawan on September 10, 2026, with all Divisional Railway Managers, Zonal General Managers, and Railway Board officials to prepare the network for the upcoming festive rush. During the session, the minister directed officials to address signaling technical deficiencies on a mission mode basis to ensure passenger safety during Chhath, Dussehra, and Diwali festivals. Railway Minister of State V. Somanna also conducted a separate review on September 9, 2026, for the Delhi Division, stressing the importance of integrating advanced technology to streamline operations and security oversight.
The high-level meeting focused heavily on rolling stock maintenance, electrical safety, and infrastructure upgrades to handle surging passenger volumes smoothly. Key directives issued during the review include:
• Rigorous maintenance schedules for coaches and wagons with specific focus on electrical circuit fire safety and wiring integrity in workshops.
• Thorough inspection of couplers and wheels alongside the mandated timely replacement of overhead equipment components that reached the end of their service life.
• Intensified maintenance protocols for track assets including point machines, turnouts, and fasteners.
• Expansion of CCTV coverage and deployment of AI-based surveillance systems across the network following investigations into recent train fire incidents suggesting anti-social interference.
• Significant upgrades to the Rail Madad portal to improve accountability and complaint tracking for water supply and coach maintenance.
• Operational augmentations including the extension of the Mumbai Central-Kanpur Anwarganj special train service by 13 additional trips and the addition of a sleeper coach to the Sogaria-Danapur Express.