With passenger traffic expected to increase during Diwali and Chhath Puja, Western Railway (WR) has introduced additional crowd-management measures across its network. These include suspending platform ticket sales at six stations and setting up designated holding areas at Ahmedabad’s Kalupur and Sabarmati railway stations.
Platform ticket sales will remain suspended from November 1 to 15 at Bandra, Vapi, Valsad, Udhna, Surat and Mehsana stations. The restriction is aimed at discouraging non-essential visitors and reducing congestion on platforms during the festive travel period.
In Ahmedabad, the rush is expected to be particularly high on trains heading towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Passenger numbers could rise further over the weekend as employees receive their salaries ahead of Diwali and begin travelling to their hometowns.
To manage the crowd, Western Railway has arranged holding areas at Kalupur and Sabarmati stations, equipped with lighting, fans, drinking water and toilet facilities. Passengers will be directed to these designated spaces and allowed onto platforms in batches as their trains approach. The arrangement is intended to prevent overcrowding and ensure smoother boarding.
Additional security arrangements
Security arrangements at both stations are also being strengthened, with additional personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) deployed for crowd management.
Railway staff carrying walkie-talkies will coordinate the movement of passengers, while CCTV cameras will be used to monitor crowded areas and enable timely intervention.
The Railway Commercial Department, RPF and GRP will jointly manage passenger queues and boarding arrangements to ensure orderly movement at the stations throughout the festive rush.