New Delhi/Patna: As millions of people are returning home for the Chhath festival, the Indian Railways has announced an extensive plan to manage the massive surge in passengers, launching 1,205 special trains over the next four days. The move comes amid reports of heavy congestion and ticket shortages across major railway stations.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that in addition to regular services, the Railways will operate 10,700 reserved and 3,000 unreserved trains to ensure smooth travel during the festive season. He added that the network’s operational plan has been fine-tuned using travel data from the past two years to predict high-demand routes and timings.
On Thursday, 30 special trains departed from major Delhi stations, with another 17 scheduled to run on Friday. To accommodate passengers during peak hours, holding and waiting areas have been created at key railway stations to enhance both comfort and safety.
Vaishnaw said that war rooms have been established at divisional, zonal and Railway Board levels, each receiving live video feeds from across the country. Additionally, mini control rooms have been set up at major stations to respond quickly to ground situations.
At the New Delhi Railway Station, a newly established permanent holding area can accommodate over 7,000 passengers. The facility includes 150 male and 150 female toilets, automatic ticket vending machines, ticket counters, and free RO water stations to cater to the high influx of travellers.
Between October 1 and November 30, 2025, the Railways plans to operate over 12,000 special trains across India, with 2,220 of them dedicated to Bihar—a key destination during the Chhath season, when lakhs of migrants return home to celebrate the state’s biggest festival.
