Northern Railways issues Holi advisory for Delhi Division to manage festive rush: CPRO Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay

New Delhi: As the festive season of Holi approaches, Northern Railways (Delhi Division) has introduced a series of measures to ensure smooth operations and effective crowd management at major railway stations. The initiative aims to cater to the anticipated surge in passengers traveling during this period. The railway authorities have issued a public advisory detailing new regulations and logistical changes implemented at key stations.

To efficiently handle the increased passenger load, CPRO of Northern Railway, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, informed that Northern Railways has set up Mini Control centers at six major stations: New Delhi, Delhi, Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, and Panipat. These Mini Controls will facilitate better coordination in managing train operations and crowd movement. Additionally, Special Duty Officers (SDOs) have been appointed alongside existing staff to oversee crowd control and ensure a seamless travel experience.

In a bid to enhance passenger convenience, Special Holding Areas have been created at New Delhi (NDLS) and Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT) to accommodate surging crowds. Ticket Booking Counters have been relocated to these Holding Areas to streamline the ticketing process. To ensure security and efficiency, ticketless passengers will not be allowed inside the stations, and only travelers with valid tickets will be permitted entry. Mobile Ticketing and Automatic Ticket Vending Machines have been installed in ample numbers to address high ticketing demands. Furthermore, Commercial Ticket Checking Staff (TTEs) have been provided with special uniforms for easy identification, aiding in seamless ticket verification. Walkie-talkies have also been distributed to commercial and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel to enhance communication with Mini Control centers.

For Holi Special Trains, Platform 16 at NDLS has been earmarked exclusively, with additional high-occupancy trains being shifted to the same platform. Regular and special Holi trains, both reserved and unreserved, have been scheduled from all major stations in the Delhi Division. As of March 9, 2025, a total of 14 Holi Special Trains were operated from Delhi Division, including five from New Delhi (NDLS), six from Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT), two from Delhi Junction (DLI), and one from Delhi Sarai Rohilla (DEE). To maintain discipline among passengers and prevent overcrowding, queue dividers in a serpentine formation have been set up for organized boarding.

Security arrangements have also been strengthened. Special Teams have been deployed to ensure that passengers with reserved tickets can board smoothly while preventing unauthorized or waitlisted passengers from entering reserved coaches. A dedicated ticket-checking squad has been stationed at New Delhi and Anand Vihar Terminal to enforce these regulations. Adequate RPF personnel have also been positioned on all Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) to regulate the flow of crowds and avoid congestion.

Keeping in mind the Holi rush, certain changes have been made at the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi Railway Station. Entry to Platforms 1-15 is now permitted only through FOB3 (Gate 8), FOB2 (Gate 9), and FOB1. Gate 10 will no longer provide access to Platforms 1-15. Reserved passengers heading to Platform 16 must enter through Gate 10, whereas unreserved passengers bound for Platform 16 must use Gate 12 for entry.

These proactive measures taken by Northern Railways aim to ensure a hassle-free journey for passengers traveling during Holi. Commuters are advised to follow the updated protocols and plan their trips accordingly.