New Delhi: In anticipation of the Chhath Puja festival, Satish Kumar, Chairman of the Railway Board, announced that Indian Railways will run 195 special trains from the Delhi region over a span of 13 days this year.
This initiative is designed to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic during the festive season.
The Railway Board Chairman also engaged with travelers affected by the Chhath Puja rush.
On Friday, Indian Railways revealed plans to operate special trains nationwide, ensuring safe travel for passengers heading to their hometowns in connection with Chhath Puja.
Dilip Kumar, the Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Railway Board, noted that more than 160 trains were run on Thursday and over 170 are scheduled for Sunday.
He explained that extra arrangements have been implemented at major stations, including New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Mumbai, Bandra, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
“The special arrangements cater to individuals traveling back to their hometowns for Chhath Puja, with a focus on routes to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to manage the increased demand. As of yesterday, we operated over 160 trains, and for today, we expect more than 170. To oversee the crowds, Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railways Protection Force (RPF) teams have been deployed, while Rail Sewaks are available to help travelers with inquiries,” he stated.
Additional coaches have been attached to the special trains, and hundreds of CCTV cameras have been installed at the stations to monitor passenger flows.
“Tickets can be obtained via both online and offline methods. Travelers unable to secure confirmed tickets can utilize unreserved seating options. We have limited unnecessary travel movements, and Rail Sewaks are present to assist elderly and physically challenged individuals,” Kumar added.
Chhath is a major festival predominantly observed in northern and eastern India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. The festival is devoted to the Sun God, involving prayers and rituals to express gratitude for the sustenance of life on Earth.