Diwali-Chhath Rush: Western Railway’s Major Move
Ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja 2025, the Western Railway has announced a temporary suspension of platform ticket sales at four major stations — Bandra Terminus, Surat, Vapi, and Udhna.
This rule will remain in effect from October 15 to October 31, 2025. The decision aims to control heavy crowds and ensure passenger safety during the festive rush.
- Diwali-Chhath Rush: Western Railway’s Major Move
- Why Has Indian Railways Taken This Decision?
- List of Stations Where Platform Ticket Sale is Stopped
- Official Statement from Western Railway
- Who Will Be Allowed on Platforms?
- Inspired by Last Year’s Incident
- Extra Security Measures in Place
- Railways’ Appeal to Passengers
- Diwali and Chhath: The Busiest Travel Season
Why Has Indian Railways Taken This Decision?
Every year during major festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja, railway stations experience massive crowds. Thousands of passengers travel to their hometowns, making platforms overcrowded and increasing the risk of chaos or accidents.
To avoid such incidents, Western Railway has decided to suspend the sale of platform tickets temporarily at key stations.
List of Stations Where Platform Ticket Sale is Stopped
The following four stations will not issue platform tickets between October 15 and October 31, 2025:
- Bandra Terminus (Mumbai)
- Surat
- Vapi
- Udhna
Official Statement from Western Railway
According to Western Railway CPRO Vineet Abhishek, the move is aimed at crowd management and passenger safety.
He said, “During Diwali and Chhath Puja, the number of passengers increases drastically. Restricting platform ticket sales helps ensure that only genuine passengers enter the platforms, reducing the risk of overcrowding and improving overall security.”
Who Will Be Allowed on Platforms?
Although the sale of platform tickets is suspended, certain exemptions will be given to people assisting passengers in need.
Permission may be granted in the following cases:
- To assist senior citizens
- To accompany female passengers
- To help persons with disabilities
- To support sick or illiterate passengers
Such permissions will be provided only after approval from railway officials and will not be open to the general public.
Inspired by Last Year’s Incident
This preventive step follows a stampede incident at Bandra station in October 2024, when overcrowding led to the injury of nine passengers.
Learning from that experience, the Railways is taking advance precautions this year to ensure smooth passenger movement and safety during the festive season.
Extra Security Measures in Place
To handle the festive rush, Western Railway has deployed additional RPF and GRP personnel across the four stations.
CCTV cameras and public address systems will be actively used to monitor and control crowds. Strict action will be taken against anyone violating the new rules.
Railways’ Appeal to Passengers
The Western Railway has requested passengers to plan their travel early, book tickets in advance, and avoid unnecessary visits to railway stations during the festive season.
Passengers are advised to cooperate with railway staff and follow safety instructions to ensure a hassle-free journey.
Diwali and Chhath: The Busiest Travel Season
Diwali and Chhath Puja mark one of the busiest travel periods in India. Passenger traffic at major stations like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Patna, and Varanasi more than doubles during this time.
To accommodate this surge, Indian Railways has also announced special trains for the festive season. The temporary suspension of platform tickets is part of a larger crowd-control strategy to maintain safety and order.
