Ahmedabad Railway Division handles over 8.20 lakh passengers in six days during Diwali, Chhath rush

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway handled over 8.20 lakh passengers between November 1 and 6 amid increased travel demand during Diwali and Chhath Puja, with 73 special train trips scheduled in November to facilitate passenger movement to major destinations across the country.

The division has put in place extensive arrangements for crowd management, passenger safety, station facilities and train operations to ensure smooth travel during the festive rush. These measures are being implemented under the guidance of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ved Prakash, with coordinated efforts by various railway departments.

DRM conducts late-night inspection at Ahmedabad station

DRM Ved Prakash visited Ahmedabad railway station late at night and remained there with railway officials to personally monitor passenger management arrangements. He inspected holding areas and other passenger facilities and interacted with travellers heading towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to understand their experiences.

Prakash also extended Chhath Puja greetings to passengers and urged them to board trains in an orderly manner by following queues. Passengers appreciated the arrangements, stating that after a brief wait, they were accommodated on trains in an organised manner, enabling them to proceed towards their hometowns comfortably.

The visit also witnessed passengers raising slogans of “Chhath Maiya Ki Jai” alongside the DRM.

Over 8.20 lakh passengers travel in six days

According to railway data, more than 8.20 lakh passengers travelled from various stations under the Ahmedabad Division between November 1 and 6. This included 4.55 lakh passengers using unreserved tickets through the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) and 3.65 lakh passengers with reserved tickets issued through the Passenger Reservation System (PRS).

Ahmedabad railway station recorded over 3.20 lakh passengers during the period, followed by Sabarmati station with 1.30 lakh and Asarwa station with around 50,000 passengers. Together, these three stations accounted for more than five lakh passengers in six days.

73 special train trips scheduled in November

To accommodate the additional festive demand, Western Railway is operating 73 special train trips from Ahmedabad Division during November 2026. These services connect major destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and other states.

Special trains are being operated from Ahmedabad, Sabarmati, Asarwa, Bhuj and Gandhidham to destinations including Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Mumbai, Prayagraj, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Barauni, Rajgir, Jaipur, Haridwar and Bhagalpur, among others.

Holding areas, food and drinking water arrangements

Special holding areas have been established at Ahmedabad and Sabarmati railway stations to manage passenger crowds and prevent congestion on platforms. These areas have facilities such as seating, drinking water, lighting and fans, allowing passengers to wait comfortably before boarding their trains.

Arrangements have also been made to provide food packets, bottled water, chips and biscuits to passengers travelling in general coaches. Railway authorities, in coordination with voluntary organisations and NGOs, are distributing food and drinking water.

Additional staff have been deployed to maintain cleanliness, while drinking water facilities and water coolers are being regularly monitored.

RPF, GRP deployed for security and crowd management

Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), ticket checking staff and other railway personnel have been deployed at stations to ensure passenger safety and smooth movement.

CCTV cameras are being used for continuous surveillance of station premises, platforms and crowded areas. Special attention is being given to regulating passenger movement at entry and exit gates, foot overbridges and platforms. Railway staff are also assisting passengers with ticketing facilities and necessary guidance.

24×7 monitoring through DRM office war room

A dedicated war room has been established at the control building in the DRM office to monitor passenger movement and train operations round the clock during the festive period.

Prakash inspected the war room and reviewed CCTV-based surveillance at stations, real-time crowd management, passenger movement on platforms, holding areas and queue-based boarding arrangements.

Officials have been directed to ensure immediate coordination and action through the war room in case of excessive crowding or passenger inconvenience at any station.

The war room is facilitating coordination among various railway departments and enabling quicker decision-making. Information regarding special trains, schedules and passenger facilities is being disseminated through electronic display boards, public announcement systems and social media platforms. Train operations and punctuality are also being regularly monitored.

The Ahmedabad Division has appealed to passengers to follow railway guidelines, maintain discipline at stations and reach their boarding stations well ahead of their scheduled departure times. DeshGujarat