WCR Gears Up for Diwali and Chhath Rush with High-Level Planning
Bhopal: Responding to the significant surge in passenger traffic expected during Diwali and Chhath Puja, the West Central Railway’s (WCR) Bhopal Division has implemented a comprehensive crowd management and facilitation plan. Under the leadership of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Pankaj Tyagi, the division is on high alert to ensure safe, smooth, and seamless travel for all.
DRM Tyagi confirmed that a special War Room has been established in the Control Room for 24-hour real-time monitoring of station and platform crowd density via CCTV.
Strategic Crowd Control Measures
To manage the massive influx, the Division has deployed strategic measures, rehearsed through a mock drill on October 14th at major stations like Bhopal, Bina, and Itarsi:
- Segregated Entry: RPF (Railway Protection Force) is using ropes and barricades to create separate, managed queues for reserved and unreserved passengers.
- Capacity Flow: Passengers are being led to platforms in managed lines, aligning with platform holding capacity to prevent overcrowding.
- Constant Updates: Loudspeakers are broadcasting continuous announcements regarding incoming trains, platforms, and directions.
- Ticketing Boost: 38 Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) are operational across 16 stations, supplemented by three additional mobile UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) units.
Special Trains for Festive Rush
The Division has scheduled several Special Train services to accommodate the festive rush:
| Train Number | Route | Operating Schedule | Notes |
| 01667 | Rani Kamlapati – Danapur Special | Every Saturday and Tuesday, Sep 27 to Nov 1, 2025 | Chhath Mahaparv Special |
| 01665 | Rani Kamlapati – Agartala Special | Every Thursday | |
| 01661 | Rani Kamlapati – Hazrat Nizamuddin Special | October 17 & 18, 2025 | Diwali Special |
| 01289 | Rani Kamlapati – Rewa Express | October 17, 2025 | |
| 02191 | Rani Kamlapati – Rewa Express | Sep 27 to Oct 18, 2025 |
Express Train Augmentation
To further increase capacity, two additional General Category (Unreserved) coaches are being attached to the following Express services:
22187/12061 Rani Kamlapati – Jabalpur Express (both directions)
Duration: From October 17, 2025, to October 22, 2025.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Saurabh Kataria appealed to all travellers to cooperate and maintain discipline for a safe and convenient journey during the festivals.
