Migrants throng Surat and Udhana railway stations

Surat : Following the Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations, Surat and Udhana railway stations are brimming with huge numbers of passengers for the last two days. The passengers, mainly migrants are primarily heading to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. 

Thousands of people have gathered at the station, hoping to board trains home for the festive season. This unprecedented crowd has led to heightened security measures, with Udhana police forming a cordon to control the flow. Despite these arrangements, the situation intensified, forcing the police to resort to a mild lathi charge to manage the crowd on Sunday.

The annual rush at Surat and Udhana railway stations peaks during this time of year, as families from across Gujarat and Maharashtra return to their hometowns in North India to celebrate with loved ones. Passengers are finding it challenging to secure seats, especially in general compartments, leading to overcrowded platforms and long ticket queues. Many travelers are struggling to board, even as tight security has been implemented to ensure safety and order.

The need for rigorous crowd management at Udhana station is underscored by a tragic incident from last year, when a passenger died amid the heavy rush. This year, police are on high alert, and increased security efforts aim to prevent similar accidents. Despite these precautions, the influx of travelers has presented significant challenges for both passengers and authorities, causing delays and creating logistical hurdles for railway officials.

Indian Railways, anticipating this surge, has introduced an extensive schedule of special trains to accommodate travelers heading to festive destinations. This year, nearly 7,300 special trains have been introduced nationwide, a substantial increase from the 4,500 trains added during the previous festive season. These special trains are focused on high-demand routes, particularly from Western India to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha, catering to the surge in travelers for Diwali and Chhath Puja.

In addition to these special services, Western Railway has implemented a series of measures to meet travel demand. Around 280 additional trains have been scheduled specifically for the Diwali and Chhath Puja season, supplementing the regular train services to ease the load on major routes. On November 1, Western Railway ran 17 of these special trains to meet passenger demands, with plans to continue increasing services as the festive season progresses.

To further accommodate the high volume of passengers, Western Railway has added extra coaches to existing trains, increasing capacity for those traveling to northern and eastern states. These efforts aim to make travel more convenient, though the overwhelming demand continues to stretch resources.