NWR Mega Plan: Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath Rush
The North Western Railway (NWR) has unveiled a massive "Mega Plan" to ensure smooth travel for millions of passengers during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities. To combat the heavy seasonal rush, the railway is implementing a multi-layered strategy involving extra trains, increased coach capacity, and heightened security measures.
Boosting Train Availability and Capacity
A core pillar of this plan is the rapid deployment of additional train services. NWR has committed to launching new services as soon as waiting lists reach critical levels, helping passengers secure confirmed seats for their journey home.
As of October 15, 2026, the railway has already confirmed several significant additions to the schedule:
- 38 pairs of special trains, accounting for a total of 824 trips.
- 150 extra coaches added to 48 existing regular services.
This surge in capacity is specifically designed to facilitate seamless travel across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, and Maharashtra.
Enhanced Security and Crowd Management
Managing massive crowds at stations is a top priority for the NWR. To maintain order and safety, the railway is establishing four specialized control rooms at divisional headquarters. These rooms will monitor station operations and passenger flow in real-time to prevent bottlenecks.
Furthermore, security will be tightened through advanced surveillance technology:
- Continuous CCTV monitoring at sensitive stations.
- Enhanced surveillance of platforms, ticket counters, and all entry and exit points to ensure passenger safety during peak hours.
A Massive National Coordination Effort
The NWR's localized strategy is part of a much larger, coordinated effort by Indian Railways. On a national scale, the carrier plans to operate approximately 3.4 lakh regular train trips between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
By mid-October, the national carrier had already announced 8,454 special train trips specifically for the festive period.
To address the extreme demand for travel between November 8 and November 13, Indian Railways has also committed to attaching extra coaches to 10 additional trains, effective from November 1. This massive operation involves close coordination between various zones, including the Northern Railway and North Central Railway, to accommodate the millions of travelers heading to high-demand destinations across the country.