New Delhi: To handle the surge in passengers during the festive season, the Railway Board has announced 7,663 additional special trains between October 1 and November 30, marking a 73% increase over last year’s number.
The Railway Board press release revealed that for the Pooja, Diwali, and Chhath rush in 2024, the total number of special train services is considerably higher than the 4,429 trains operated during the same period last year.
Indian Railways has already transported 957.24 lakh non-suburban passengers during Diwali and Chhath celebrations from October 24 to November 4, a rise of 33.91 lakh passengers compared to 923.33 lakh last year. On November 4 alone, more than 1.2 crore passengers used the services, including 19.43 lakh reserved and over 1.01 crore unreserved passengers, setting the highest single-day passenger count of the year.
To manage the spike, 207 special trains were run on November 3 and 203 on November 4. However, this increase in services has led to overcrowding, with social media posts showing passengers squeezing into coaches through windows at some stations.
In response to the overcrowding, Indian Railways assured the public that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of travelers. The Railways has emphasized the importance of following safety protocols, and it urged passengers to report any suspicious activities to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) using helpline 139 or the RailMadad portal.
Since October 15, Indian Railways has also ramped up security with enhanced luggage inspections, parcel checks, and surveillance of vendors using portable stoves to prevent any fire risks during the busy season.
With IANS inputs