To manage the massive influx of passengers traveling to Uttar Pradesh and other states for the Chhath festival, Western Railway (WR) ran 104 special trains from Udhna junction in Surat, Gujarat. This initiative was taken to cater to the substantial demand from workers in Surat’s diamond and textile industries who return home for Diwali and Chhath celebrations.
The WR is running a total of 340 special trains during the festive season to various destinations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa. These special trains operate in addition to the regular trains running to these destinations. The railway is also augmenting regular trains with additional coaches, depending on availability and demand. On November 4th and 5th alone, an extra 37 trains were deployed to manage the passenger demand. A majority of these trains originate from major cities like Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Mumbai, Surat, Udhna, Vapi, and Valsad.
To ensure smooth operations and punctuality, the Western Railway has established special control rooms at various levels. The WR also deployed a significant contingent of staff to manage the crowds at Udhna, where a large number of workers embark on their journeys home. This includes 50 volunteers, 20-40 ticket checking staff, 85 RPF staff, 140 GRP, and 60 RSPF staff. These efforts have helped accommodate over 160,000 passengers on these special trains, with over 31,000 departing from Udhna junction on November 3rd alone.
This proactive approach by Western Railway ensures that passengers can travel comfortably and safely to their destinations during this busy festive period. The deployment of special trains and additional staff demonstrates the railway’s commitment to meeting the travel needs of its passengers, particularly during major religious festivals.
