Chhath Puja Rush: Over 50,000 Passengers Travel Daily from Pune to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Pune, 9th November 2026: With more than 50,000 passengers travelling daily towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar following Diwali, the Pune Railway Division has intensified crowd-management arrangements ahead of Chhath Puja. The measures include operating four to six additional unreserved trains daily, shifting selected services to Hadapsar and Khadki stations and deploying additional railway and security personnel.
The additional trains are catering to the increased demand for destinations such as Danapur, Gorakhpur, Mau, Deoria, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga. Shifting selected trains from Pune to Hadapsar and Khadki is also aimed at distributing passenger traffic across stations and reducing congestion at Pune railway station.
Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Kumar Verma is regularly visiting platforms to review the arrangements and interact with passengers.
Ticketing and Passenger Management
At Pune station, 15 automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) are functional, supported by 13 facilitators working in shifts to assist passengers. Additional ticket counters are also being operated at Pune and Hadapsar during peak hours.
Passengers can purchase tickets through the M-UTS facility in the holding area at Pune station. Booking queues are being continuously monitored by supervisors, while platform ticket sales have been restricted at Pune to regulate entry into the station.
The division has deployed 57 TTE staff, including 37 additional personnel, across Pune, Hadapsar and Khadki. A total of 290 RPF personnel have also been assigned duties at these three stations. Special responsibilities have been given to commercial officers and supervisors to ensure orderly boarding and prevent unauthorised entry into reserved coaches.
AI-Based Monitoring Through War Room
The division is also using its War Room for AI-enabled monitoring of passenger movement and train operations. The facility integrates live station feeds and real-time operational data to help officials analyse incidents, identify congestion and take timely action.
It also tracks train movements and delays, enabling officials to examine disruptions and initiate corrective measures.
PRO Hemant Kumar Behera said, “The Pune Railway Division has made extensive arrangements to manage the increased passenger rush following Diwali and ahead of Chhath Puja. With more than 50,000 passengers travelling daily towards North India, we are operating four to six additional unreserved trains every day to meet the demand. Selected trains have also been shifted to Hadapsar and Khadki to distribute passenger traffic.
“Additional ticketing facilities, ATVMs and M-UTS services have been arranged to make ticket purchases easier and manage queues. We have strengthened the deployment of TTE staff and RPF personnel at all three stations, while commercial officers and supervisors are monitoring passenger movement and boarding arrangements.
“Our War Room is using AI-enabled systems, live station feeds and real-time operational data to monitor station activities, train movements and delays. This helps officials assess situations and respond promptly. DRM Rajesh Kumar Verma is also regularly reviewing the arrangements at stations and interacting with passengers. All concerned departments are working in coordination to manage the festive rush.”
Chhath Puja from November 13
Chhath Puja will be observed from November 13 to 16. The four-day festival begins with Nahay-Khay on November 13, followed by Kharna on November 14. Devotees will offer Sandhya Arghya to the setting Sun on November 15, while Usha Arghya and Parana will mark the conclusion of the festival on November 16.
The festival is expected to sustain heavy passenger demand on routes connecting Pune with Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
