Chhath Puja rush: Ticket sales rise up to 30% at Delhi railway stations as passengers head home

Passengers throng to board the Bihar bound special train at New Delhi Railway Station on November 14. | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA Hourly ticket sales at major railway stations in Delhi have increased by 25% to 30% amid the Chhath Puja rush, as lakhs of passengers head to their hometowns, railway officials said. Northern Railway has introduced additional trains and stepped up crowd management and security arrangements to handle the rush. Twenty-seven additional east-bound trains were run on Saturday (November 14) while 22 are scheduled for Sunday (November 15). “Overall footfall at stations across Delhi increases from five lakh to eight lakh every year during Chhath Puja. Footfall is higher at Anand Vihar terminal. We have made separate entry and exit arrangements for reserved and unreserved passengers at major stations like New Delhi and Anand Vihar,” said Himanshu Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northern Railway. Security personnel keeping vigil at New Delhi Railway Station on November 14. | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA Crowd management A permanent holding area for passengers with reserved tickets, called the ‘Yatri Suvidha Kendra’, was commissioned at New Delhi Railway Station last year. A similar facility for unreserved passengers was commissioned at Anand Vihar terminal this year, along with a temporary tented holding area. These facilities have dedicated ticket counters, automatic ticket vending machines, toilets and drinking water. Mr. Upadhyay said AI-enabled CCTV surveillance systems provide estimates of passenger numbers in different parts of stations. “It also flags sudden crowd surge, following which dispersal mechanisms are deployed,” he said. At New Delhi Railway Station, a foot overbridge connects the station to the metro and bus terminal. Passengers are directed to separate holding areas for security checks and screening before proceeding to the platforms. “The hourly ticket-sale tracking system helps identify destinations such as Darbhanga, Samastipur and Madhubani where tickets sell out quickly and no train is immediately available. Special on-demand trains are arranged in such cases within 15 to 20 minutes,” Mr. Upadhyay said. Besides automatic ticket vending machines, railway personnel equipped with handheld ticket vending machines under the Unreserved Ticket System are assisting passengers. Around 400 ‘Rail Sevaks’ have also been deployed to guide passengers. The deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel has been increased by 60%. Ambulances and fire response teams have also been deployed to handle emergencies, along with a quick-response team for cleaning. Chhath songs are also being played at New Delhi and Anand Vihar railway stations, adding to the festive touch. Passengers complain of overcrowded platforms at New Delhi Railway Station. | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA Crowded platforms Despite the arrangements, passengers complained of overcrowding on platforms. “The arrangements outside the station are good, but the platforms are very crowded. The real battle is boarding the train. Once inside, we are used to travelling in overcrowded conditions. It happens every year, during every festive season,” said Sonia Jha, a domestic worker in Delhi who was travelling to her village in Darbhanga with her family. Passengers were also seen attempting to board trains through windows. “At New Delhi, we have tried to place east-bound trains on platforms 15 and 16 so that passengers do not have to climb the foot overbridge,” Mr. Upadhyay said. However, several passengers entering from the main entrance to the platform still had to make their way through the crowd to reach the other end. The foot overbridge connecting the metro and bus terminal was also crowded with passengers carrying luggage. “It is crowded, but I am more excited about visiting home after months. This is my first visit since my marriage last year,” said Kapila Singh, who was travelling to Patna with her husband, who works at a fabric shop in Delhi. Published - November 14, 2026 07:55 pm IST