Railways has set up special holding areas at Ahmedabad and Sabarmati stations to manage festive crowds and prevent platform overcrowding ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja. The aim is to manage the increased passenger footfall and improve convenience for travellers during the festive rush.
Seating, water and lighting
The holding areas have seating, drinking water, lighting and fans for waiting passengers. By holding passengers in these areas until their trains are ready, the Railways hopes to keep platforms clear and avoid the crush that builds up during festival travel.
The arrangement is meant to give passengers a comfortable place to wait instead of crowding the platforms for hours before departure.
Food for general-class passengers
General-class passengers are being given food packets, water bottles, chips and biscuits. With support from voluntary organisations and NGOs, meals including puri-sabzi, halwa and theplas are distributed in the holding areas.
Biscuits and water bottles are also handed to passengers as they proceed to board trains, so that travellers heading home for the festival have something to eat and drink on the journey.
Cleanliness and water checks
Railways is conducting regular checks to keep water coolers and drinking water facilities operational across the stations. Dedicated cleaning staff have been deployed to maintain hygiene across the station premises.
The checks and the cleaning staff are part of the same festive plan, to keep the stations usable while thousands of extra passengers pass through them each day.
A smoother festive journey
The holding areas, the food distribution and the extra cleaning together form the Railways' plan for the Diwali and Chhath rush at Ahmedabad and Sabarmati. Passengers travelling in the coming days will find waiting space, water and food arranged before they board.
