To accommodate the surge in passenger numbers for Chhath Puja, Western Railway (WR) has announced a dedicated schedule of 104 special trains from Udhna Junction, located in Surat, Gujarat. This move is part of WR’s larger plan to operate a total of 340 special trains throughout the festive season, catering to destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa.
WR officials noted that these special services supplement regular train operations to meet increased passenger demand. Additional coaches are being added to many trains where possible to further increase capacity. Notably, on November 4 and 5, an extra 37 trains are scheduled to handle peak travel demand. These services are set to depart from major hubs, including Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Mumbai, Surat, Udhna, Vapi, and Valsad.
To ensure efficient management and minimize delays, WR has also set up special control rooms. An official release emphasized the importance of the 104 special trains from Udhna Junction, a key departure point for many workers in Gujarat’s diamond and textile industries returning home for Diwali and Chhath Puja. On November 3 alone, more than 160,000 travelers used these trains, with approximately 31,000 departing from Udhna.
To enhance passenger safety and support crowd management, WR has deployed several additional resources, including 50 volunteer assistants, 20-40 ticket checking personnel, and security forces comprising 85 Railway Protection Force (RPF), 140 Government Railway Police (GRP), and 60 Railway Security Force (RSF) members. These efforts are aimed at ensuring a smooth and safe travel experience for all passengers during the busy festive period.
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