18,000 Diwali Chhath Special Trains to Tackle Rush!
Indian Railways launches 18,000 special trains to manage the heavy passenger rush during the Diwali and Chhath festive season.
In a massive move to accommodate the surge of passengers traveling for the upcoming festivities, Indian Railways has announced the deployment of 18,000 Diwali Chhath special trains to manage the massive passenger surge across the country. This significant increase is designed to handle the heavy traffic expected during the peak Diwali and Chhath Puja seasons.
Compared to the 12,000 special services operated during the same period in 2025, this year's deployment marks a major scale-up in capacity. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that this initiative, coupled with the ongoing redevelopment of 1,300 railway stations, is part of a broader strategic effort to enhance long-term capacity and manage seasonal demand effectively.
Regional Boost: Connecting Bihar and Jharkhand
The East Central Railway (ECR) is playing a pivotal role in this festive rollout. To ensure seamless travel for passengers in Bihar and Jharkhand, the zone is introducing over 100 pairs of special trains. These services are designed to connect travelers to major metropolitan hubs, including:
- Delhi and Punjab
- Mumbai and Pune
- Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
- Various cities across Southern India
Extended Services and Northern Connectivity
Central Railway has also ramped up its operations by extending the services of 16 specific special trains. This extension includes 36 additional trips intended to clear the passenger rush, with operations scheduled to continue through November 30, 2026.
Meanwhile, Northern Railway is focusing on the Delhi-NCR region, introducing extra reserved and unreserved services to Uttar Pradesh. Key routes include connections to Aligarh Railway Station and Jhansi, ensuring better connectivity for commuters in the northern belt.
High-Tech Safety and Crowd Management
To maintain order and safety at high-traffic hubs like New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, and Udhna, authorities have implemented several large-scale measures:
- Massive Holding Areas: New facilities capable of accommodating up to 20,000 people at once, equipped with improved ventilation and sanitation systems.
- AI-Powered Surveillance: Over 700 AI-enabled cameras have been deployed at the New Delhi Railway Station to monitor crowds in real-time.
Passengers are strongly advised to verify all travel details—including train numbers, specific boarding stations, departure schedules, and coach compositions—exclusively through the official IRCTC website or authorized railway inquiry channels, as many special services operate on a limited or selected-date basis.