Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, reviewed on-ground passenger arrangements at New Delhi Railway Station and commended railway staff for their 24x7 dedication. He stated that 1.2 million employees are ensuring passengers reach home safely during the ongoing festive rush.

Between 1 and 20 October 2025, Indian Railways operated 4,211 special trains, catering to over one crore passengers, with 7,800 additional services scheduled for Diwali and Chhath. The Delhi area alone facilitated an average of 0.425 million daily travellers, up from last year’s 1.971 million to 2.104 million over comparable periods.

War Rooms have been set up at Rail Bhawan and across all zones for real-time monitoring, enabling seamless coordination and quick response to congestion or operational issues. The Minister also inspected facilities at the RPF Control Room and First Aid Unit and interacted with passengers, who praised the improved arrangements and cleaner, more comfortable coaches.

Nationwide, Indian Railways has enhanced passenger comfort through holding areas, extra ticket counters, potable water, and clean washrooms. At Jaipur, tickets are issued in holding areas through the Mobile Unreserved Ticketing System (M-UTS), while Vadodara Division has moved over 3 millio passengers since October 1

Recent initiatives include an air-conditioned nursing room at Mysuru Station under Project Ayushman, and Lucknow City becoming North India’s first fully women-staffed railway station, highlighting Railways’ commitment to Nari Shakti. Medical readiness was also exemplified by a Palakkad doctor who successfully treated a passenger emergency on-site.

Indian Railways has urged passengers to rely on verified information, as over 40 misleading social media posts on overcrowding have been flagged and acted upon. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to safe, transparent, and service-driven operations throughout the festive season.