Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, reviewed passenger movement at the Railway Board War Room and appreciated staff for their round-the-clock efforts during the festive season. He extended Diwali greetings to railway personnel across the country.

To meet the surge in travel demand during Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, Indian Railways has deployed 12,011 special trains—up from 7,724 last year—ensuring smooth and comfortable travel for passengers nationwide. Between 1 and 19 October 2025, 3,960 special trains were operated, facilitating journeys for over ten million passengers.

For the upcoming Diwali and Chhath peak, around 8,000 additional services are scheduled. Northern Railway (1,919), Central Railway (1,998), and Western Railway (1,501) lead festive operations, while East Central and North Western Railways each contributed 1,217 special services.

To enhance passenger comfort, Indian Railways has introduced holding areas, extra ticket counters, clean washrooms, potable water, and clear display boards at major stations. In the New Delhi region—covering New Delhi, Delhi, Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Shakur Basti—1.517 million passengers travelled between 16 and 19 October, up from 1.366 million during the same period last year.

During station visits in Delhi and Anand Vihar, the Minister interacted with travellers and inspected arrangements to ensure a safe and convenient journey experience. More than 1.2 million railway employees are working 24x7 to facilitate hassle-free festive travel across the network.