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New Delhi: Indian Railways has made elaborate arrangements to manage the surge in passenger traffic for Chhath Puja as thousands of people tried to reach home even on Saturday to celebrate the festival with their families.
To accommodate the increasing demand, special trains, additional coaches and several passenger-friendly measures were introduced on major routes and major stations.
In view of the huge crowd, a round-trip Chhath Puja special train has been scheduled between Rani Kamalapati and Hazrat Nizamuddin.
According to officials, train number 01661 Chhath Puja special left Rani Kamlapati station at 7:30 am on Saturday and will reach Hazrat Nizamuddin station at 8:15 pm.
On its return journey, train number 01662 will leave Hazrat Nizamuddin on Saturday at 8:30 pm and reach Mathura at 9:55 pm, Agra Cantt at 10:50 pm, Gwalior at 2:55 pm, Veerangana Rani Laxmibai Jhansi at 5:35 am, Bina at 8:10 am, Vidisha at 9:15 am, reaching Rani Kamlapati station. Will stop first. Sunday morning at 10:50 am.
The train will have 22 LHB coaches, which will include two second AC, three third AC, six economy third AC, five sleeper, four general class, one SLRD and one generator car.
The Railway Ministry said that around 6,181 special trains have been notified for October 28 to facilitate the return of passengers to their workplaces after the festive season is over.
Overall, more than 12,000 special trains are being operated across the country, with more than 900 special trips scheduled in the next three days to manage the festive rush.
In Bihar, around 30 stations are being equipped to handle the heavy passenger flow. Measures include additional ticket counters, CCTV surveillance, weatherproof holding areas and advanced crowd management systems.
Stations such as Patna, Danapur, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Samastipur, and Barauni in Bihar, along with Gorakhpur, Ballia, and Varanasi (also known as Banaras). in Uttar Pradesh, are among those where holding areas have been set up to ensure smooth operations.
Additional coaches are also being added to existing services to accommodate the increasing demand. The ministry said weatherproof holding areas are being created at major stations to manage large passenger flow and provide convenient waiting facilities before train departure.
To ensure passenger safety, 24/7 medical booths have been set up at major stations including Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya and Saharsa. Fire brigade and ambulance services have also been deployed for emergency health assistance and security management.
Adding to the festive spirit, Indian Railways has started playing Chhath songs at several major stations to help passengers feel more connected to the occasion.
At stations like Patna, Danapur, Hajipur, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Sonepur, New Delhi, Ghaziabad and Anand Vihar Terminal, the devotional songs are creating a joyful atmosphere and a sense of home and tradition for the passengers returning for the holy festival.
–IANS