Holi Rush: Surat & Udhna Stations to Run 20 Special Trains, Double Holding Capacity

Surat | Gujarat — As thousands of migrants and workers prepare to travel home for Holi, Surat’s railway stations are witnessing an unprecedented surge in passenger movement. Anticipating the festive rush, Western Railway has rolled out an extensive plan at Surat and Udhna stations to ensure smooth travel, enhanced safety and better crowd management.

With long queues already forming at Udhna, officials have moved swiftly to prevent chaos and discomfort. “We successfully handled massive crowds during Diwali and Chhath Puja. Similar — and in some cases stronger — arrangements have been made for Holi,” a senior Western Railway official said.

20 Special Trains in Two Days

To accommodate the spike in demand, the Railways will operate 20 trains over two days, including more than six special unreserved trains. Additionally, general coaches have been added to five regular trains to allow more passengers to travel without prior reservations.

Special trains will run from Mumbai and South Gujarat towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other northern states — key destinations for migrant workers returning home to celebrate the festival of colours with their families.

“The objective is clear — no passenger should be left stranded,” the official added. “We are confident everyone will reach home safely and on time for Holi celebrations.”

Double Holding Areas, Tent Facilities

One of the biggest changes this year is the creation of double holding areas at stations to manage crowd overflow. The passenger holding capacity has been doubled, and a large temporary tent area has been set up to provide resting space.

Keeping rising temperatures in mind, water coolers have been installed across platforms to provide cold drinking water. Additional fans, improved lighting and new sheds have also been arranged.

Platform number 6 at Udhna has been upgraded into a high-level platform to improve passenger convenience. New permanent and temporary toilets have also been installed to ensure sanitation during peak rush hours.

Tight Security & Monitoring

Security arrangements have been significantly strengthened. Personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and City Police will be deployed round-the-clock to maintain order.

Extra commercial staff have been assigned for ticket checking and passenger assistance. Senior railway officers will monitor the situation every eight hours to ensure swift decision-making and quick response to any emergency.

Coordination between multiple agencies has been streamlined to prevent overcrowding and avoid stampede-like situations.

Appeal to Passengers

Railway authorities have urged passengers to cooperate with officials and follow queue systems. “Maintaining discipline is essential for everyone’s safety. We request passengers to remain patient and supportive,” officials said.