NE BUSINESS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT 20
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Monday reviewed passenger movement at the Railway Board War Room, where he lauded the dedication of Railway staff across India for ensuring smooth and safe travel during the festive season. He extended warm Diwali greetings to the 12-lakh-strong workforce, praising their round-the-clock efforts in maintaining punctuality, cleanliness, and passenger comfort during the busy travel period.
Met with passengers.
We studied historical traffic patterns, analysed passenger surge data and created mechanisms for coordination.
We created holding areas at more than 70 stations.
We increased ticketing facilities at more than 100 stations.
We are monitoring movement… pic.twitter.com/20EyQb2h21
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 21, 2025
Through 12,000+ Special Trains across the nation — Indian Railways stands as a symbol of service and reliability. pic.twitter.com/eEfCyWK4U7
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) October 22, 2025
“Indian Railways truly reflects the spirit of service and discipline. The commitment of every railway employee during this festive rush is commendable,” said Vaishnaw, appreciating the staff for their tireless work in ensuring seamless passenger movement.
- Ashwini Vaishnaw Commends Railway Staff for Exemplary 24×7 Service During Festive Rush
- Over 1 Crore Passengers Travel Comfortably in 3,960 Special Trains; 8,000 More to Run for Diwali & Chhath
- Enhanced Facilities in Gujarat & Tamil Nadu for a Hassle-Free Journey
Record Passenger Movement During Festive Season
Between October 1 and 19, 2025, Indian Railways successfully operated 3,960 special trains, facilitating travel for over 1 crore passengers across the country. To meet the continuing surge in travel demand for Diwali and Chhath, Railways will operate an additional 8,051 special trains, taking the total to 12,011—a sharp rise from 7,724 special trains run last year.
The highest number of festive specials have been operated by Central Railway (1,998), Northern Railway (1,919), and Western Railway (1,501), with significant contributions from East Central Railway (1,217) and North Western Railway (1,217).
Enhanced Passenger Experience Across India
Indian Railways has implemented comprehensive measures to ensure a comfortable, safe, and crowd-free travel experience. These include:
- Dedicated holding areas at major stations
- Extra ticket counters to ease congestion
- Clean and well-maintained washrooms
- Potable drinking water facilities
- Real-time train display boards and helpdesks for passenger assistance
In the Delhi region alone — comprising New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Shakur Basti — 15.17 lakh passengers travelled between October 16–19, marking a 11% increase over last year.
Special Focus on Gujarat and Tamil Nadu
To ensure smooth festive travel in Gujarat, Western Railway and Western Central Railway have introduced multiple special trains connecting Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Mumbai, catering to heavy passenger movement. Additional ticket counters, holding zones, and enhanced catering and water facilities have been arranged at major junctions like Ahmedabad and Vadodara, along with real-time crowd management teams to streamline boarding and departure.
In Tamil Nadu, Southern Railway and South Western Railway have augmented services from Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai to destinations across Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Special trains and extra coaches are being operated to accommodate festive demand, with focus on cleanliness, punctuality, and passenger comfort.
Nationwide Team Effort
More than 12 lakh Railway employees are working tirelessly across all zones, embodying the Indian Railways’ motto of “Serving the Nation with Dedication.”
Indian Railways remains committed to ensuring that every passenger — whether travelling home for Diwali, Puja, or Chhath — enjoys a safe, comfortable, and joyful journey.
