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Indian Railways has facilitated travel for over one crore passengers in just 19 days this month through nearly 4,000 special trains. As the festive season gathers pace, the Railways has announced plans to run more than 8,000 additional special services to manage the heavy rush during Diwali and Chhath. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the festive travel arrangements at the Railway Board’s War Room on Monday, October 20. He praised staff across all zones for their round-the-clock efforts and extended Diwali greetings to railway personnel and their families.

According to the Ministry of Railways, a total of 12,011 special trains are being operated this festive season - a sharp increase from 7,724 services run during the same period last year. The Northern, Central, and Western Railway zones have handled the highest volumes, with 1,919, 1,998, and 1,501 special trains respectively.

The Railways said these additional services are aimed at easing congestion, improving connectivity to major cities, and ensuring smooth journeys for passengers travelling home for the festivals. Other zones, including East Central and North Western Railways, have also deployed over 1,200 special trains each to meet regional travel demand.

In the Delhi region - which includes New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi and Shakur Basti stations - passenger movement saw a sharp rise this month. Between October 16 and 19, around 15.17 lakh passengers travelled from these terminals, up by 1.51 lakh from last year’s 13.66 lakh during the same period.

Vaishnaw also visited New Delhi and Anand Vihar stations earlier this week, where he interacted with passengers to review the arrangements. "Our aim is to make festive travel smooth and comfortable for everyone," he said while acknowledging the on-ground efforts of railway staff.

To ensure better management during the festive rush, Indian Railways has strengthened facilities at key stations across the country. Measures include designated holding areas to control crowd flow, more ticket counters, clean washrooms, potable drinking water, and real-time display of train schedules.

Officials said more than 12 lakh railway employees are working continuously to manage the increased load and ensure punctuality. “Every department - from operations and security to catering - is working in coordination to provide a safe and pleasant experience for passengers,” a senior official said.

The Railways has deployed monitoring teams at major junctions to ensure smooth functioning during the peak travel days ahead of Diwali and Chhath. Constant coordination between control rooms and station management teams is being maintained to handle any last-minute operational challenges.

The Ministry said the focus remains on ensuring passenger safety, punctuality, and comfort throughout the festive period. “Railways are operating at full capacity to ensure that every traveller reaches home to celebrate the festivals without difficulty,” the statement added.

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