New Delhi Railway Station handles up to 8 lakh passengers daily during peak festive periods; Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Surat record significant passenger movement during Diwali and Chhath rush

New Delhi, November 6, 2026: Indian Railways has strengthened passenger facilities, crowd management and security arrangements across major railway stations to manage the heavy travel rush during the Diwali and Chhath festive season. Union Minister for Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the arrangements during an inspection of New Delhi Railway Station, focusing on passenger convenience, station security and smoother movement of travellers.

During the inspection, the Minister interacted with passengers to understand their experiences and review the facilities available at the station. He stated that the festive period, covering Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath, witnesses some of the highest passenger movements across the railway network.

To manage the increased demand, Indian Railways has arranged additional special trains, strengthened Railway Protection Force (RPF) deployment and installed 700 additional AI-enabled cameras for enhanced surveillance and security.

The arrangements also focus on reducing congestion and ensuring passengers can reach their respective trains more efficiently after arriving at stations.

New Delhi Railway Station Introduces Dedicated Holding Areas

A major part of the passenger management initiative involves improvements to holding facilities at New Delhi Railway Station.

A dedicated holding area has been created for passengers travelling with reserved tickets, alongside the existing facility for unreserved passengers introduced last year. A common holding area has also been developed to streamline passenger entry and movement.

Luggage-checking facilities have been shifted outside the station building, allowing the space previously used for ticketing inside the station to be converted into a more comfortable waiting area.

Additional arrangements across major stations include:

• Dedicated passenger holding areas.
• Additional ticketing facilities.
• Baggage screening arrangements.
• Drinking water facilities.
• Clean and accessible washrooms.
• Enhanced security surveillance and RPF deployment.
• Additional special trains to accommodate festive demand.

Major Railway Stations Record Heavy Passenger Movement

Indian Railways reported substantial passenger movement across five major railway regions between October 1 and November 5, 2026.

Passenger movement: October 1–November 5, 2026

2 crore

Delhi railway stations

1.5 crore

Mumbai railway stations

90 lakh

Hyderabad railway stations

1 crore

Bengaluru railway stations

50 lakh

Surat and Udhna railway stations

During the peak period of November 1–5, daily passenger footfall increased significantly across these regions.

Railway region	Usual daily footfall	Peak daily footfall
Delhi	5 lakh	8 lakh
Mumbai	4 lakh	5 lakh
Hyderabad	2.5 lakh	4 lakh
Bengaluru	2.5 lakh	3.5 lakh
Surat–Udhna	1 lakh	1.6 lakh

The figures underline the scale of festive-season mobility and the importance of coordinated passenger management at major railway hubs.

Key Highlights

• 700 additional AI cameras: Installed to strengthen surveillance and railway station security.
• Additional special trains: Introduced to accommodate increased festive-season passenger demand.
• Dedicated holding areas: Separate facilities for reserved and unreserved passengers at New Delhi Railway Station.
• Improved passenger facilities: Additional ticketing, baggage screening, drinking water and clean washrooms.
• Delhi passenger movement: Approximately 2 crore movements recorded between October 1 and November 5, 2026.
• Five major railway regions: Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Surat–Udhna collectively recorded substantial festive travel demand.
• RPF deployment: Enhanced security personnel deployment to manage crowds and passenger safety.

Impact on Hospitality, Travel & Tourism

1. Increased demand for hotel accommodation

The surge in festive railway travel creates opportunities for hotels, budget accommodation providers, guest houses and serviced apartments, particularly around major railway hubs. Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Surat are likely to experience additional demand from passengers travelling for family visits, religious tourism and leisure trips.

2. Boost to religious and domestic tourism

Diwali and Chhath are major travel periods in India, generating substantial movement towards religious destinations and hometowns. Additional trains and improved passenger management can support domestic tourism by facilitating access to pilgrimage centres, cultural destinations and regional tourism markets.

3. Opportunities for restaurants and foodservice businesses

Higher passenger footfall creates demand for food courts, railway catering, quick-service restaurants, takeaway counters and beverage outlets at railway stations. Improved waiting facilities can also support greater passenger engagement with station-based food and beverage services.

4. Growth opportunities for station-based hospitality

The development of holding areas, improved waiting facilities and better passenger amenities reinforces the growing importance of railway stations as integrated passenger service hubs. This creates opportunities for organised foodservice, retail, lounge facilities and other passenger convenience services.

5. Better connectivity for business and MICE travel

Improved crowd management and additional train services can support corporate travellers, event delegates and professionals travelling between major commercial centres. Efficient railway connectivity remains important for India’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.

6. Technology-led passenger experience

The installation of AI-enabled cameras and improvements in passenger management highlight the increasing role of technology in railway operations. Similar technology-led approaches can influence the development of smarter transport infrastructure and integrated travel experiences.

Industry Takeaway

The festive-season preparations highlight the growing importance of Indian Railways in supporting India’s domestic travel and tourism economy. With passenger movement reaching significant levels across major railway hubs, investments in additional trains, security infrastructure and passenger amenities can contribute to more organised travel experiences.

For hotels, restaurants, railway catering operators and tourism businesses, increased rail connectivity presents opportunities to serve a wider domestic traveller base. Better passenger facilities and smoother station operations can further strengthen the relationship between railway infrastructure, hospitality services and destination development.