Northern Railway reported an impressive milestone during the festive season of Diwali and Chhath Puja – it successfully transported over six crore passengers. In a statement, NR highlighted that over three crore passengers travelled on November 4 alone, that is the combined population of Australia and New Zealand. So how did they handle this massive rush?
To manage this unprecedented demand, NR operated 3,500 special trains, part of a nationwide effort that saw Indian Railways deploying 7,724 special trains to serve approximately 20 crore passengers. Chief Public Relations Officer of NR Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said, “We are proud to have successfully handled the massive festive rush, setting a new benchmark in passenger transportation. Our commitment to passenger safety and satisfaction remains unwavering.”
To ensure smooth operations, NR implemented several strategic measures. Elaborate crowd management systems were put in place, including mini-control centers at railway stations for continuous crowd monitoring. Additional unreserved trains were deployed as needed to prevent long waits at stations. Special holding areas were created at key stations, equipped with large screens displaying train information, extra ticket counters, and RPF Helpdesks.
Passenger safety and convenience were further prioritized with ample food counters, timely announcements, extra coaches and designated platforms for festival special trains. Upadhyay noted that these combined efforts by NR’s dedicated staff ensured a seamless travel experience during one of the busiest times of the year.