Mumbai, 25th October, 2025
Indian Railways has made extensive arrangements to ensure the convenience and comfort of passengers during the ongoing festive season of Diwali and Chhath Puja. More than 12,000 trips of holiday special trains are being operated across the country to cater to the surge in travel demand. To manage the increased passenger movement, additional facilities such as holding areas, extra ticket counters, drinking water and sanitation arrangements have been made at major stations. Around 12 lakh railway employees are working tirelessly round the clock to ensure smooth operations and safe travel during this busy period.
According to a press release issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Shri Vineet Abhishek, Western Railway too has taken several proactive steps to handle the festive rush effectively. Nearly 2,500 trips, comprising over 80 pairs of special trains, are being operated to meet the heavy demand during the festive season. A majority of these trains are north-bound, catering mainly to passengers travelling towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and neighbouring states. Out of these, around 1,630 trips are from Gujarat, 752 trips from Maharashtra and 90 trips from Madhya Pradesh.
The Special trains operating from Udhna/Surat to various parts of the country, including UP and Bihar, have witnessed a significant surge in passenger traffic. Compared to the festive period last year, when 93 trips were notified and approximately 1.49 lakh passengers were transported (from 09.10.2024 to 08.11.2024), this year’s festive season (from 28.09.2025 to 28.10.2025) has seen 128 trips being notified, catering to over 2 lakh passengers. These special trains have provided a convenient and hassle-free travel experience to passengers traveling to their destinations. It is noteworthy to observe that on 19th October, 2025, seeing the surge in passenger traffic, 10 special trains were run for the convenience of passengers.
To handle this rush efficiently, several infrastructural improvements and passenger-friendly facilities have been developed at Udhna station. The newly upgraded high-level Platform No. 6 at Udhna (East) has improved boarding convenience for passengers. A 700-metre-long concrete road has been constructed to connect the station approach road with the circulating and holding areas. Two spacious holding areas have been created—one on the west side accommodating around 1,000 passengers and another on the east side catering to 1,500 passengers. These holding areas are well-equipped with adequate seating, drinking water taps, lights, fans, toilets, CCTV surveillance and a public announcement system.
To make ticketing faster and easier, extra booking counters, ATVMs and hand-held ticketing terminals have been introduced. The mobile UTS facility has also been launched, enabling booking staff to issue tickets to passengers waiting in queues. For smooth inter-platform movement, a new escalator and additional staircase have been provided in the East station building. Free drinking water and adequate toilet facilities have also been arranged for the convenience of passengers.
In terms of crowd management and safety, additional RPF and GRP personnel have been deployed to assist passengers and maintain proper queue formation at the platforms. Trains are being escorted by RPF personnel to ensure safety. CCTV surveillance is being monitored round the clock and a dedicated war room has been set up at sensitive stations for crowd management. Western Railway officers and staff have been deployed 24×7 to monitor operations and assist passengers.
Western Railway is also ensuring wide publicity of all special trains and passenger facilities through print and electronic media, social media platforms and press releases so that passengers remain well informed about train services. Western Railway appeals to all passengers to cooperate with railway staff and follow safety instructions to ensure a safe and comfortable journey during this festive season.