SCR runs nearly 400 special trains to meet festival rush; 4.6 lakh passengers expected daily

Public announcements on train arrivals, departures, train numbers and coach positions are being made at railway stations under South Central Railway.

South Central Railway (SCR) has said it is operating nearly 400 special trains during the ongoing festival season to meet the surge in passenger demand. The zone expects a daily footfall of around 4.6 lakh passengers across major railway stations this month.

The special trains are being run primarily to cater to passengers travelling to States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other eastern and northeastern regions, where the Chhath festival is celebrated on a large scale. The high-demand destinations include Darbhanga, Patna, Chhapra, Sasaram, Danapur, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Shalimar and Howrah.

Additional ticket-checking staff and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel are being deployed at stations and circulating areas to regulate movement, prevent overcrowding and ensure smooth passenger flow to manage the increased passenger traffic. RPF personnel are guiding passengers to form orderly queues while boarding trains and facilitating systematic entry into coaches to prevent rushing and crowding on platforms.

Frequent public announcements on train arrivals, departures, train numbers and coach positions are also being made to help passengers move efficiently within stations and board their trains without inconvenience. Passenger holding areas have been set up at key stations to accommodate travellers during peak hours and reduce congestion on platforms.

In addition, SCR is operating 54 special trains for Sabarimala pilgrims until January. These services are being run between Hyderabad and Cherlapalli and Kollam, according to a press release.