Rail Minister at New Delhi Station: 700 AI Cameras and Special Trains for Festival Rush

Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a thorough inspection of the New Delhi Railway Station today. During the visit, he reviewed the passenger facilities, safety measures, and preparations to accommodate the expected surge in travelers during the upcoming festivals of Diwali and Chhath. He interacted with passengers to gather feedback regarding these facilities, with many expressing satisfaction about the arrangements made at the station.

Vaishnaw noted that the period around festivities like Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath generally witnesses the highest volume of passengers. He emphasized that Indian Railways is continuously working to enhance passenger convenience, improve services, and provide greater comfort to travelers.

In light of the increasing number of travelers, the minister announced that additional special trains would be operational, and a greater number of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel would be deployed. To further strengthen surveillance and safety, 700 additional AI cameras have been installed. He stressed that measures are in place to ensure that passengers can reach their trains in the shortest possible time after arriving at the station.

To enhance crowd management at railway stations, over 700 AI cameras have been installed along with the establishment of spacious holding areas at key stations, stated Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Indian Railways is making extensive efforts to facilitate the movement of passengers and improve travel arrangements during the festive season. These efforts include designated waiting areas for passengers at major stations, additional ticket booking facilities, baggage check services, drinking water points, and clean toilets. The aim is to provide a systematic and comfortable travel experience even during peak crowd times.

Improved Holding Area Arrangements at New Delhi Railway Station

At New Delhi Railway Station, a new holding area has been created for passengers with reserved tickets, building on last year's facility for unreserved travelers. A common holding area has also been developed to streamline the entry and movement of passengers. Additionally, baggage check services have been relocated outside the station building, allowing for the creation of a comfortable waiting area that was previously used for ticket bookings. These changes aim to reduce congestion and aid passenger movement, while providing a convenient waiting area before accessing their respective platforms.

Heavy Passenger Traffic at Major Railway Stations

From October 1 to November 5, 2026, key railway stations in Delhi—such as New Delhi (NDLS), Old Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT), Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Sarai Rohilla—recorded almost 20 million passenger movements. Typically, around 500,000 passengers pass through daily, but during this busy period, the average rose to about 800,000 per day.

In the Mumbai region, including Bandra Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), approximately 15 million passenger movements were logged from October 1 to November 5, 2026. Normally, about 400,000 passengers travel daily, but this figure surged to an average of 500,000 daily during the peak travel window.

Railway stations in the Hyderabad area, including Secunderabad, Kachiguda, and Charlapally, reported around 9 million passenger movements from October 1 to November 5, 2026. While daily averages stand at approximately 250,000 passengers, this number increased to nearly 400,000 during the high-traffic period.

In Bangalore, major railway stations such as Bengaluru City, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB), Yeshvantpur, and Yelahanka collectively experienced about 10 million passengers from October 1 to November 5, 2026. Normally witnessing around 250,000 daily passengers, this number rose to around 350,000 during the festive peak.

Stations like Surat and Udhna saw almost 5 million passengers from October 1 to November 5, 2026. The usual daily average is approximately 100,000, which surged to about 160,000 during the busy festive days.

Indian Railways remains focused on enhancing passenger facilities, reinforcing safety infrastructure, and improving operations based on traveler feedback and experiences. These efforts aim at ensuring safe, convenient, and hassle-free travel during peak festive seasons.