New Delhi: Indian Railways plans to operate almost 6000 special trains as the festive season approaches throughout the country. Over a crore passengers need to travel for the Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath festivals. This was announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while addressing the media and stating that efforts have been made to ensure extra arrangements given the surge in demand.
The special trains apart, 108 regular trains are attached with more general coaches while 12,500 coaches have been sanctioned to meet the passenger surge.
5,975 Special Trains To Ease Festival Travel For Over One Crore Passengers
The Railway Minister said that train routes to states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal see heavy traffic during these festivals. Vaishnaw said 5,975 special trains have been announced for this year's festival season as compared to 4,429 last year. "This will help over one crore passengers travel home during the festival rush," he added. Durga Puja this year will commence on October 9, Diwali on October 31, and Chhath Puja on November 7 and 8.
Railways To Launch Festive Ticket-Checking Drive
The Railway Ministry will hold a special ticket-checking drive on festival days to weed out ticketless travellers, including policemen, who figure among the top offenders, officials said. It wrote to 17 Zones' General Managers on September 20 asking them to launch the drive against ticketless and unauthorized passengers from October 1 to 15 and again from October 25 to November 10. The general managers were asked to enforce it strictly under the Railway Act of 1989.
The railway commercial officers who are engaged with the current procession across different rail sections claimed that during the festival season, they would target policemen also who happen to be the worst culprits.