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The DMRC announced revised train schedules to accommodate festive travel. On Sunday, October 19, services on the Pink, Magenta and Grey Lines will begin at 6 am, an hour earlier than usual. The early start aims to assist passengers heading out for festive shopping and temple visits.

For Diwali day, Monday, October 20, the last metro trains from all terminal stations - including the Airport Express Line will depart at 10 pm, an hour earlier than usual. Services during the day will continue as per the regular timetable.

The DMRC said it has made the adjustments to help passengers plan their journeys better and manage the anticipated festive rush. The corporation also advised travellers to use metro smart cards and digital payments to avoid queues.

In a related move, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Saturday that the ‘Rajmargyatra’ app now allows users to gift a FASTag annual pass, calling it a convenient and thoughtful choice for frequent highway travellers this Diwali.

The annual pass, priced at Rs 3,000, is valid for one year or up to 200 toll plaza crossings and can be activated within two hours on any existing FASTag linked to a non-commercial vehicle. The feature, available through the ‘Add Pass’ option on the app, requires users to enter the recipient’s vehicle number and contact details followed by a simple OTP verification.The ministry said the initiative aims to promote seamless and cashless highway travel. According to official data, the annual pass has already been adopted by over 25 lakh users, processing around 5.67 crore transactions since its launch. The pass can be used at more than 1,150 toll plazas nationwide.

Officials said both initiatives - the DMRC’s special metro schedule and NHAI’s FASTag gifting option, have been planned to ease public movement and ensure smoother traffic during the festive period. With heavy travel expected across cities and highways, authorities have urged people to plan their trips in advance and follow safety guidelines.

Ankit Kumar is a Senior Sub Editor at Zee Business. He covers international affairs, politics, climate change, business, finance and global elections. With experience acros