Diwali Special Trains: 20 ways Indian Railways will make your journey smoother this festive season

Indian Railways has prepared a comprehensive action plan to tackle the extra passenger rush with a slew of initiatives to ensure utmost safety in crowd management while making sure that passenger convenience is ensured across all major stations and in trains during the Diwali and Chhat festival period that sees massive crowds heading back to their home towns and villages.

Indian Railways said that all the five divisions of the Northern Railway has been adequately prepared for the twin festivals. The NR said it witnesses around 20-30 per cent increase in passenger traffic during these festivals.

"All the five Divisions of Northern Railway Delhi, Lucknow, Moradabad, Ambala and Firozepur are equipped adequately to manage the extra rush during the twin festival season. Major Railway Stations in Delhi Area see a substantial increase in passengers who travel by train to their native places to be with their family and friends during these important Indian festivals," said the NR.

"Where on an average about 8.5 lakh passengers are handled each day at the various terminals in the national capital area on normal days, New Delhi station alone witnesses a footfall up to 6 lakh per day during these festival days. Similarly, on normal days, Anand Vihar Terminal handles around 50,000 passengers a day in normal times which increases to above 80,000 persons per day during Diwali/Chhat. Similarly, there is about 20-30% increase in traveler surge in Delhi Jn. Station," it said.

Check out the key steps taken by the railways to ensure safety and to avoid any untoward incidents:

1. A total of 78 special trains are to be run between the period 15.10.2018 to 15.11.2018. As many as 519 Trips are scheduled during this time (List attached along with). During the peak period, 02.11.2018 to 13.11.2018 arrangements for un-notified trains may also be made if the demand arises.

2. At both New Delhi and Anand Vihar stations, to prevent overcrowding of platforms, special pandals (covered holding area) are created for assembly of passengers for the scheduled departure of their trains. The Shamiyanas (Pandals) are equipped with all necessary facilities and amenities like enquiry counters, drinking water, mobile toilets, food stalls, lighting, fans, Train information display systems, Security and help desk. These are also monitored with CCTV on a 24 X 7 basis.

3. Large LED screens are erected at prominent places especially for displaying train information and also screening of movies/ entertainment programs are done through DTH connection for the entertainment of the waiting passengers.

4. Mini control rooms, manned by staff of different departments are setup at New Delhi station, Old Delhi and Anand Vihar terminal for real-time monitoring of crowd movement, train boarding & security arrangements.

5. Platforms of trains are prefixed and not changed during the rush period to avoid last minute panic amongst passengers and logjam at FOBs. All the trains are to be placed on platforms at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure to ensure that the passengers have ample time to board.

6. Apart from RPF/RPSF personnel, Scouts/Civil Defense personnel are also deployed to help control the crowd movement.

7. RPF staffs are deployed in large numbers for forming Queues of passengers at platforms to enable them to board the trains in a disciplined manner.

8. Constant CCTV camera monitoring is done of all the major stations and additional ones are installed for covering every inch of the station premises.

9. Posters, banners, advertisement in newspapers, TV, Radio about special trains for effective management of crowd and smooth train operation.

10. Additional booking counters are made functional at major stations in Delhi Area.

11. Additional Golf carts/wheelchairs to help in the movement of Senior Citizens and differently- abled passengers.

12. Well lit platforms, FOBs and circulating areas to prevent untoward incidents.

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13. Deployment of additional ticket checking / commercial staff at entry gates, FOBs, Platforms and other strategic locations in coordination with RPF, to regulate the entry of unreserved passengers.

14. On board, ticket checking staff are to be available in front of their nominated coaches when the rake is placed to deal with the passengers & public complaints.

15. Anti-touting squads are deployed to nab touts and unauthorized ticket vendors.

16. Railway Doctors are to be posted at all major stations including New Delhi and Anand Vihar Terminal railway stations 24 X 7.

17. Northern Railway Central Hospital at New Delhi is kept in readiness to attend to any eventuality at railway stations, especially of Delhi Area.

18. First Aid Posts are to be set up on Railway stations.

19. Adequate stretchers and wheelchairs will also be provided at stations.

20. Ambulances will be on standby at New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal and Delhi Jn. railway stations.