Hyderabad: SCR operates nearly 400 special trains to handle festival rush

South Central Railway will operate nearly 400 special trains in November to manage the anticipated Chhath Puja rush. It has also deployed additional ticket-checking staff and RPF personnel, arranged holding areas and strengthened ticketing facilities at major stations.

Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) has geared up to manage the anticipated passenger rush during the Chhath Puja festival by operating nearly 400 special trains in November to facilitate hassle-free travel to various destinations, particularly in northern and eastern India.

With a daily footfall of around 4.6 lakh passengers expected across major railway stations under its jurisdiction, the SCR has stepped up arrangements to ensure the safe and orderly movement of passengers.

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According to SCR authorities, the special trains are being operated to high-demand destinations, including Darbhanga, Patna, Chhapra, Sasaram, Danapur, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Shalimar and Howrah. These services are aimed at meeting the increased travel demand towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other northeastern states, where Chhath Puja is celebrated on a large scale.

The SCR is also exploring the possibility of operating additional special trains by optimally utilising available resources, despite operational constraints.

As part of its crowd management strategy, additional ticket-checking staff and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been deployed at stations and in circulating areas. Further, holding areas have been arranged at major stations to accommodate passengers during peak hours.

Ticketing facilities have also been strengthened with additional Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs). Passengers are being encouraged to use the UTS mobile application, with QR codes displayed at ticket counters and prominent locations to facilitate the purchase of unreserved tickets.