New Delhi, 6 November 2026: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today carried out a detailed inspection of New Delhi Railway Station. He reviewed passenger facilities, security arrangements and preparations for the heavy rush expected during Diwali and Chhath. He also spoke to passengers to get their feedback, and they expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.
Mr Vaishnaw said the festive season, which includes Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath, brings the year’s heaviest passenger rush, and that Indian Railways is improving facilities and services every day. He said additional special trains have been arranged and more Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel deployed to handle the crowds. A further 700 AI cameras have been installed to strengthen surveillance and security. He added that special attention is being paid to helping passengers reach their trains in the shortest possible time after entering the station.
Across major stations, Indian Railways has put in place dedicated holding facilities, additional ticketing arrangements, baggage screening, drinking water and clean washrooms, so that travel during heavy rush is more organised and comfortable.
Improved holding arrangements at New Delhi station
New Delhi station now has a dedicated holding area for passengers with reserved tickets, in addition to the one for unreserved passengers introduced last year. A common holding area has also been set up to streamline entry and movement. Luggage checking has been moved outside the station building, and the space earlier used for ticketing inside the station has been converted into a comfortable waiting area. These changes reduce congestion, simplify movement and make the wait before boarding more convenient.
Passenger footfall at major stations
- Delhi: New Delhi (NDLS), Old Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT), Hazrat Nizamuddin and Sarai Rohilla together recorded about 2 crore passenger movements between 1 October and 5 November 2026. The usual daily average of nearly 5 lakh rose to about 8 lakh during the peak period of 1-5 November.
- Mumbai: Bandra Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) together recorded about 1.5 crore movements over the same period. The usual daily average of nearly 4 lakh rose to about 5 lakh during 1-5 November.
- Hyderabad: Secunderabad, Kacheguda and Charlapalli recorded about 90 lakh movements. The usual daily average of nearly 2.5 lakh rose to about 4 lakh during 1-5 November.
- Bengaluru: Bengaluru City, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB), Yesvantpur and Yelahanka together recorded about 1 crore movements. The usual daily average of nearly 2.5 lakh rose to about 3.5 lakh during 1-5 November.
- Surat: Surat and Udhna stations together recorded about 50 lakh movements. The usual daily average of nearly 1 lakh rose to about 1.6 lakh during 1-5 November.
Indian Railways will continue to improve amenities, strengthen security infrastructure and make operational changes based on experience and passenger feedback, with the aim of ensuring safe, convenient and hassle-free festive journeys.