Northern Railway has suspended the sale of platform tickets at five major railway stations in the Delhi-NCR region from October 15 to 28, citing the heavy rush expected during the festive period. The decision, announced on Wednesday, October 15, aims to regulate passenger movement and ensure safety as large crowds are expected to travel for Diwali and Chhath Puja.
The suspension will remain in effect at New Delhi, Delhi Junction, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar Terminal and Ghaziabad stations –Â some of the busiest in northern India. Officials said the temporary measure is intended to ease congestion inside station premises and facilitate smoother passenger flow.
“The sale of platform tickets has been stopped at these five stations in view of the heavy rush during the upcoming festivals,” Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said.
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Exemptions for those accompanying passengers
While the general public will not be allowed to purchase platform tickets during this period, Northern Railway has made exceptions for those assisting specific categories of passengers. Persons accompanying senior citizens, Divyangjans, illiterate or lady passengers may approach the Enquiry Office for platform tickets, the official added.
Railway officials said this provision is meant to ensure that passengers requiring assistance, such as the elderly or differently-abled, are not inconvenienced by the restriction.
Managing the festive rush
Passenger traffic across the country typically surges in the days leading up to Diwali and Chhath, with families heading home for the celebrations. This year, Diwali falls on October 20 and Chhath will be observed between October 25 and 28, prompting rail authorities to step up crowd management measures.
To deal with the anticipated rush, Northern Railway has increased staff deployment at major stations and strengthened security arrangements. Officials said additional personnel have been positioned at entry points, ticket counters and footbridges to prevent overcrowding and ensure better coordination.
Safety measures after earlier incidents
The decision comes in the backdrop of past overcrowding incidents at Delhi’s major stations. Earlier this year, a stampede at New Delhi railway station during the Maha Kumbh rush claimed 18 lives and left several injured. The tragedy highlighted the need for stricter crowd control during high-demand travel periods.
Officials said halting the sale of platform tickets is a precautionary measure aimed at maintaining safety and avoiding a repeat of such incidents during the festive season.
Additional trains to ease travel pressure
To meet the surge in demand, Indian Railways has rolled out additional festival special trains on busy routes connecting Delhi with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other eastern states. The move is expected to provide some relief to passengers struggling to get confirmed tickets during this period of high travel demand.
