In a bid to accommodate the substantial influx of passengers traveling for Chhath celebrations, Western Railway (WR) has announced the operation of 104 special trains from Udhna junction in Surat district, Gujarat. This initiative comes as part of WR’s broader strategy to run a total of 340 special trains during the festive season to various destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa.
Special Train Operations to Meet High Demand
According to WR officials, these special trains are in addition to the regular services already operating to these regions. To further enhance capacity, additional coaches are being added to regular trains based on availability and demand. Specifically, on November 4 and 5, an extra 37 trains will be dispatched to meet the high passenger demand. A significant number of these services will originate from major cities, including Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Mumbai, Surat, Udhna, Vapi, and Valsad.
Enhanced Management and Safety Measures
To ensure smooth operations and maintain punctuality, WR has established special control rooms at all levels. The official release highlighted that 104 special trains were specifically deployed to manage the passenger flow from Udhna, where many workers in the diamond and textiles industries travel home for Diwali and Chhath celebrations. On November 3 alone, these trains facilitated the travel of over 1,60,000 passengers, with 31,000 traveling from Udhna junction.
Support Staff to Assist Passengers
In addition to running the special trains, WR has put in place a series of measures to manage the crowds effectively. This includes the deployment of 50 volunteers (sahayaks), 20-40 ticket checking staff, and a combined force of 85 Railway Protection Force (RPF), 140 Government Railway Police (GRP), and 60 Railway Security Force (RSPF) personnel to ensure passenger safety and assistance during the festive rush.