Western Railway stops platform ticket sales during Holi festival

Surat : With Holi celebrations just around the corner, Western Railway has temporarily halted the sale of platform tickets at six major stations, including Surat and Udhna, until March 16. This decision has been taken to control excessive crowding at railway platforms and ensure a smooth flow of passengers during the festive season.

According to Western Railway Mumbai Division’s Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, the measure has been implemented to prevent congestion at platforms, which typically see a surge in visitors during festivals. The affected stations include Surat, Udhna, Valsad, Vapi, Mumbai Central, and Bandra Terminus.

Authorities have clarified that while platform tickets will not be available to the general public, relaxations will be given to those assisting senior citizens, elderly passengers, and women travelers to ensure a hassle-free journey for them.

Holi Special Trains Between Bandra Terminus and Ahmedabad

In addition to crowd control measures, Western Railway has announced special superfast trains between Bandra Terminus and Ahmedabad to accommodate the increased demand for travel during Holi.

The Bandra Terminus-Ahmedabad Superfast Special (Train No. 09091) will depart from Bandra Terminus at 4:25 PM on March 13 and 14 and reach Ahmedabad at 12:30 PM the following day.

The return service, Ahmedabad-Bandra Terminus Superfast Special (Train No. 09092), will leave Ahmedabad at 6:20 AM on March 14 and 15, reaching Bandra Terminus at 3:00 PM the same day.

These special trains will stop at Borivali, Palghar, Vapi, Valsad, Udhna, Bharuch, Vadodara, and Anand stations in both directions.

Managing Festive Rush with Strict Crowd Control

The decision to ban platform ticket sales and introduce special trains reflects Western Railway’s proactive approach to managing the expected surge in passengers during Holi.