In New Delhi on Sunday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw toured the busy Anand Vihar Terminal to check on preparations for the Diwali and Chhath travel rush. He met station staff and thousands of passengers, stressing that Indian Railways is ready for the huge surge expected this festive season.
The minister told reporters that every year millions of people return home for Diwali and Chhath. This year, “about 12,000 extra train services” will be run to keep crowds moving smoothly. Many commuters at the terminal praised the arrangements, and the minister said the extra trains and organized boarding helped keep lines short.
Senior officials were with Vaishnaw during his visit. Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar, Delhi‑Division rail‑traffic officer Pushpesh R. Tripathi, Northern Railway chief Ashok Verma and ASC officer Chetan Jichkar were on hand. Verma explained that each major station now has a dedicated “war room” to monitor train movements in real time. “We make platform and departure decisions instantly to avoid crowd build‑up,” he said.
Security has also been ramped up. Jichkar noted that over 600 personnel, including Railway Protection Force (RPF), Railway Police Service (RPSF) officers, CORAS commandos and dog squads, are on duty across the zone. A special holding area has been set up outside Anand Vihar to let passengers wait comfortably before boarding. The minister personally checked the station layout, a mini control room, and the CCTV system to gauge preparedness.
Vaishnaw also addressed rumors that had been spreading on social media about overcrowding and mismanagement. He accused the rumors of being “old videos spread to create confusion,” and urged civil society and opposition parties to stop stoking fear. “The situation is fully under control and all passengers are being managed systematically,” he insisted.
The minister thanked the 12 lakh railway employees who are working around the clock to keep the trains running on schedule. He wished all travellers safe journeys home for the festive celebrations.
With full staffing, extra trains, real‑time control rooms and heightened security, Indian Railways says it is ready to handle the festive rush of Diwali and Chhath without any major hiccups.
Source: ianslive
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