New Delhi: With thousands of passengers expected to travel to Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha for Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Chhath, Northern Railway has stepped up crowd-management measures at key stations across Delhi-NCR.As part of the arrangements, Northern Railway has suspended the sale of platform tickets at six major railway stations till Nov 14 to prevent overcrowding. During this period, only passengers holding confirmed train tickets will be allowed access to platforms.The restriction applies to New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar Terminal, Anand Vihar Halt and Ghaziabad railway stations. Platform tickets will not be available through ticket counters, mobile applications or automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs).Railway officials said relatives and acquaintances often accompany passengers to stations and purchase platform tickets to help them board trains, adding to congestion, particularly during the festive travel rush.Officials said the move is aimed at reducing crowding inside stations and facilitating smoother boarding for passengers.Northern Railway chief public relations officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said elderly people, women and persons with disabilities would continue to receive assistance. Those accompanying them for such assistance will be exempt from the restriction.At New Delhi railway station, a permanent passenger holding area has been created outside Platform 16 on the Ajmeri Gate side. Equipped with baggage scanners and supported by Railway Protection Force personnel, the facility is intended to regulate passenger movement before entry to platforms.The holding area is in addition to the 6,000-square-metre Yatri Suvidha Kendra inaugurated in Oct last year. Railway authorities are also operating festival special trains and plan to increase their number this week to accommodate the festive rush.
