 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 22: In anticipation of the upcoming Holi Festival, Northern Railway has bolstered its arrangements to accommodate the surge in passengers during the festive season. Shobhan Chaudhuri, General Manager of Northern Railway, chaired a meeting at the Northern Railways Headquarters Office in New Delhi to review the preparations and ensure seamless travel for passengers.
This year, Northern Railway has announced an impressive increase in the number of special trains, with 354 trips of 75 pairs of trains scheduled, marking a significant rise from the previous year. Of these, 243 trips are slated for Eastbound destinations, while 111 trips will cater to other directions. Furthermore, 282 trips are designated as reserved, while 72 trips are unreserved, to accommodate passengers of all categories.
To meet the heightened demand, 39 rakes of existing trains have been augmented with 842 additional coach trips, resulting in approximately 500,000 extra berths being made available for travelers. General Manager Sh. Shobhan Chaudhuri emphasized the need for meticulous monitoring of these arrangements to ensure timely operation of special trains.
Special emphasis has been placed on providing enhanced passenger amenities at key railway stations, with designated "passenger holding areas" established at Ajmeri Gate New Delhi and Anand Vihar Terminal. These areas feature covered tents, lighting, fans, water booths, portable toilet blocks, food stalls, PA systems, and booking counters to alleviate congestion and provide comfort to passengers awaiting departure.
In addition to these measures, several other initiatives have been implemented to enhance passenger experience and safety during the Holi rush:
Increased monitoring of trains enquiry and announcement systems
Deployment of additional ticketing and enquiry counters
Vigilance against touts and anti-social elements
Enhanced cleanliness and amenities at stations and trains
Stringent ticket checking procedures
Deployment of Scouts & Guides and Civil Defence volunteers for crowd management
Coordination with security agencies for prevention of untoward incidents
To further facilitate passengers' travel, various Holi Special trains have been announced, catering to popular destinations such as Patna, Gaya, Lucknow, Kamakhaya, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Varanasi, Barauni, and more.
Northern Railway's proactive measures underscore its commitment to providing safe, efficient, and comfortable rail travel experiences for passengers during the festive season. |
