The festive migration has officially begun in Northern India’s industrial heartland. Thousands of workers, primarily from Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, have started the “great trek home” to celebrate Chhath Puja with their families.
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Crowd Management: In Ludhiana, the railway station was teeming with passengers as early as 4:00 AM. To prevent chaos, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have started creating “queue channels” at the platforms.
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Special Trains Launched: * Ludhiana to Saharsa/Katihar: Unreserved special trains (like 04656/04655) are scheduled to start running soon to accommodate those without confirmed reservations.
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Panipat Stops: Several Bihar-bound trains originating from New Delhi and Amritsar have been given special halts at Panipat to cater to the local labor force.
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The Ticket Struggle: “I have been in line for three hours to get a ticket to Katihar. All the regular trains are showing ‘No Room,’ so my only hope is the unreserved special trains starting next week,” said Ram Pukar, a worker at a Ludhiana spinning mill.
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Safety Measures: * Holding Areas: Temporary “Waiting Halls” equipped with fans and water have been set up outside Ludhiana station to house up to 500 passengers at a time.
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Surveillance: Over 56 CCTV cameras in Ludhiana and a similar network in Panipat are being monitored from a dedicated “War Room” to manage crowd density and prevent pickpocketing.
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Suspension of Services: To prioritize passengers, the sale of platform tickets has been restricted at major stations, and parcel services are expected to be suspended during the peak rush period (Oct 21-25).
Official Advice: Northern Railway officials have urged passengers to check the NTES (National Train Enquiry System) for real-time updates on festival special trains. They have also warned against boarding overcrowded trains or traveling on rooftops, emphasizing that extra unreserved coaches are being added to existing trains wherever possible.
