Patna : East Central Railway (ECR) is preparing temporary passenger holding areas at 15 major railway stations across Bihar from November 3 to manage the expected rush during Diwali and Chhath Puja. The arrangements are designed to accommodate around one lakh passengers daily and help regulate crowds at stations as people return to the state for the festivals.
The holding areas will remain operational through the festive period and will include train status display boards, public announcement systems, drinking water, seating facilities and medical booths. A dedicated 24-hour war room will also be established to coordinate security and crowd management.
Holding Areas To Be Set Up At 15 Stations
The temporary facilities will allow passengers to wait in designated areas instead of crowding station platforms while awaiting their trains.
According to East Central Railway, the holding areas will provide basic passenger amenities, including clean drinking water, adequate seating, train information displays and medical assistance.
Patna Junction, Rajendra Nagar Terminal and Patliputra Junction will have a combined arrangement to accommodate thousands of passengers daily. The railway is also preparing facilities at other major stations across the state.
Chief Public Relations Officer of East Central Railway Saraswati Chandra said the temporary holding areas would be ready before Diwali, allowing passengers travelling during Diwali and Chhath to wait in designated spaces.
Passenger Holding Capacity At Major Stations
The planned holding capacity at key stations includes:
| Railway station | Estimated holding capacity |
| Patna Junction | 4,000–5,000 |
| Danapur station | 2,000–3,000 |
| Rajendra Nagar Terminal | 1,000–2,000 |
| Patliputra Junction | 2,000–2,500 |
| Muzaffarpur Junction | 3,000–4,000 |
| Gaya Ji Junction | 2,500–3,000 |
| Darbhanga Junction | 2,000–3,000 |
| Samastipur Junction | 1,500–2,000 |
These figures represent the planned capacity at the listed stations. The facilities will help railway officials manage passenger movement and reduce congestion during peak travel periods.
Around 3,000 Trips By Festival Special Trains
Alongside the holding areas, the railway plans to operate festival special trains to accommodate increased demand from passengers travelling from Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat, Punjab and southern India to Bihar.
Around 3,000 trips by special trains are planned during the festive season. Railway divisions are expected to issue details of individual services and schedules.
The frequency of services on important routes, including Delhi–Patna, Mumbai–Danapur, Surat–Patna and Pune–Danapur, has also been increased to improve connectivity and provide more travel options.
The additional services are intended to help passengers reach their destinations during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
24-Hour War Room For Security And Crowd Management
East Central Railway will establish a special war room that will operate around the clock during the festive rush.
The control facility is expected to support coordination among railway officials and security personnel, helping them monitor crowd movement and respond to emerging problems.
The temporary holding areas will also use public announcement systems and train status boards to keep passengers informed and reduce confusion while waiting for services.
Preparations Ahead Of Diwali And Chhath
The festive period brings a significant increase in passenger movement as people travel to Bihar to celebrate Diwali and Chhath with their families.
By combining temporary holding areas, additional train services, passenger amenities and round-the-clock monitoring, East Central Railway aims to improve crowd management at major stations.
The railway has said the holding areas will be completed before Diwali. Passengers should check official railway announcements for confirmed festival special train schedules, stoppages and departure timings before travelling.
