In a cultural first, Indian Railways has begun playing Chhath songs at major stations to immerse passengers in the festive spirit, evoking the essence of home, tradition, and devotion throughout their journey.
Indian Railways is facilitating a smooth and comfortable return journey for passengers after Chhath Puja by operating 6,181 special trains across the country. The services, scheduled between October 28 and November 5, aim to ease post-festival travel as passengers return to their workplaces following one of India’s most widely celebrated regional festivals.
To manage the surge in passenger volumes, holding areas equipped with essential amenities have been set up at major stations, including New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Udhna, Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. These temporary facilities are designed to streamline boarding and reduce congestion during peak hours.
The initiative follows the announcement made by Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on September 23, detailing over 12,000 special trains to meet festive demand during Diwali and Chhath Puja. In the three days leading up to Chhath, more than 900 special train trips are scheduled, with railway staff working round-the-clock to guide passengers, maintain order, and ensure safe journeys.
In Bihar, around 30 stations have been reinforced with additional ticket counters, CCTV surveillance, and weather-proof holding areas to accommodate the festive rush. Key stations such as Patna, Danapur, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Samastipur, and Barauni are being equipped with expanded waiting zones and crowd management systems. Similar arrangements are in place at Gorakhpur, Ballia, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
To further ease passenger movement, Indian Railways has deployed additional automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs), enhanced passenger reservation system (PRS) counters, and mobile unreserved ticketing (m-UTS) facilities.
Chhath Songs at Stations
In a cultural first, Chhath songs are being played at major railway stations, including Patna, Danapur, Hajipur, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Sonpur, New Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Anand Vihar Terminal. The initiative aims to immerse passengers in the festive spirit, evoking the essence of home and tradition during their journey.
Safety and operational efficiency remain top priorities. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been deployed in adequate numbers, while passenger assistance booths, information counters, queue management systems, and public announcement facilities have been strengthened. Cleanliness, lighting, and sanitation are being closely monitored at all major stations.
Dedicated war rooms at the Railway Board, zonal, and divisional levels are functioning round-the-clock to coordinate operations and respond to passenger needs in real time. At high-footfall stations such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, and Saharsa, 24×7 medical booths have been established. In coordination with the Bihar government, fire and ambulance services are on standby to ensure prompt medical assistance and effective safety management.