Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday inspected New Delhi Railway Station to review passenger amenities, security arrangements and preparations for handling the increased rush during the Diwali and Chhath festive season. He also interacted with passengers to obtain feedback, with several travellers expressing satisfaction over the arrangements.
The minister said the festive period, which includes Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath, witnesses the highest passenger rush every year. Indian Railways is therefore undertaking continuous improvements to passenger facilities and services to ensure safer, more convenient and comfortable journeys.
Vaishnaw said additional special trains have been arranged and the deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel has been strengthened to manage the surge in passenger movement. As many as 700 additional AI-enabled cameras have also been installed to enhance surveillance and security.
He emphasised that special attention was being given to ensuring that passengers could reach their respective trains as quickly as possible after arriving at stations.
Dedicated holding areas and improved facilities
At New Delhi Railway Station, a dedicated holding area has been established for passengers with reserved tickets, in addition to the facility for unreserved passengers introduced last year. A common holding area has also been created to streamline entry and passenger movement.
Luggage-checking facilities have been shifted outside the station building, allowing the space previously used for ticketing inside the station to be converted into a more comfortable waiting area. The changes are intended to reduce congestion and make it easier for passengers to wait before proceeding to their platforms.
Other arrangements at major stations include dedicated holding facilities, additional ticketing provisions, baggage screening, drinking water and clean washrooms to improve passenger convenience during peak travel periods.
Delhi stations record around 8 lakh passengers daily during peak period
Delhi’s major railway stations — New Delhi, Old Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Sarai Rohilla — collectively recorded approximately two crore passenger movements between October 1 and November 5, 2026.
The average daily footfall across these stations, normally around five lakh passengers, rose to approximately eight lakh during the peak period from November 1 to 5.
Other major railway hubs across the country also witnessed a significant increase in passenger movement during the festive season.
In the Mumbai region, Bandra Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus together recorded around 1.5 crore passenger movements between October 1 and November 5. Their average daily footfall increased from nearly four lakh to approximately five lakh during November 1–5.
In Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Kacheguda and Charlapalli stations registered around 90 lakh passenger movements during the same period. Daily footfall rose from an average of 2.5 lakh to nearly four lakh during the peak five-day period.
Bengaluru’s major stations — Bengaluru City, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Yesvantpur and Yelahanka — collectively recorded approximately one crore passenger movements between October 1 and November 5. Their average daily footfall increased from nearly 2.5 lakh to around 3.5 lakh during November 1–5.
Similarly, Surat and Udhna railway stations together handled approximately 50 lakh passenger movements during the period. Their average daily footfall rose from around one lakh to 1.6 lakh during the peak period.
Indian Railways said it would continue to strengthen passenger amenities, security infrastructure and operational arrangements based on experience and passenger feedback, with the aim of ensuring safe, organised and hassle-free travel during the festive season.
(PIB)
