Extensive security cordons and crowd-regulation measures have been activated across Delhi rail premises as massive passenger volumes gather for the holiday calendar. Northern Railway has assigned 2,040 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel across major terminals in the capital to maintain order, secure premises, and facilitate passenger movement. The deployment includes 1,300 additional security personnel stationed specifically to manage the festive peak and provide continuous on-ground guidance to travellers.
Round-the-Clock Vigilance Across Prime Terminals
Intensive surveillance protocols have been rolled out at high-traffic transit centres, notably New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Anand Vihar. RPF teams have been rostered for continuous 24-hour shifts to prevent security lapses, deter untoward occurrences, and offer quick assistance on crowded concourses. Rail authorities have simultaneously urged passengers to adhere strictly to station security regulations and immediately flag unattended baggage or suspicious movement to security teams on duty.
Dedicated Holding Areas to Ease Platform Overcrowding
Travel volume surges sharply during Diwali, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath Puja, creating severe congestion on boarding platforms, particularly for outbound services bound for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. To mitigate risks associated with sudden crowd influxes onto narrow boarding areas, Northern Railway has constructed a permanent holding area outside platform 16 on the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi railway station. This designated staging space allows operational staff to regulate passenger groups before they proceed directly to trackside boarding zones.
Fleet Augmentation and Freight Restrictions
To ease transit across high-demand eastern routes, rail managers are expanding festive special train runs and deploying extra administrative staff to manage concourse movement. Furthermore, operational curbs have been applied to parcel handling services across passenger terminals during this timeframe. Restricting parcel cart movements keeps circulation corridors clear of cargo packages, freeing platform space exclusively for passenger movement.
Platform Ticket Sales Suspended at Six Key Hubs
To restrict non-travelling visitors and reduce congestion inside station halls, Northern Railway has completely suspended platform ticket sales at six stations between November 3 and November 14, 2026. The restriction applies to New Delhi railway station, Old Delhi railway station, Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, Ghaziabad railway station, Anand Vihar Terminal, and Anand Vihar Halt. Across this twelve-day window, terminal entry remains strictly reserved for travellers holding valid journey tickets.
