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| Photo Credit:
Manjunath H S
To manage the surge in passenger traffic during Deepavali, and the long weekend, the Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway(SWR) has announced several measures, including running special trains in all directions to ensure safe and comfortable travel for passengers.
According to a press release by SWR, a comprehensive analysis was carried out well in advance to study travel patterns and waitlist trends. “Based on this, the division undertook a large-scale exercise to identify the required trains and coaches, ensure their maintenance, and plan operations efficiently. The Bengaluru Division coordinated closely with the Railway Board and other zonal railways to allocate platforms, maintenance slots, and travel paths for the smooth operation of additional services,” release stated.
The number of special trains operated this festival season has more than doubled compared to last year, according to SWR. Over 95 special trains were operated this year, as against 36 during the previous festive season. Trains have been operated in all directions, including destinations within Karnataka such as Belagavi, Bidar, Hubballi, Karwar, Mysuru, and Vijayapura. Additional services have also been run towards Tamil Nadu and Kerala, covering Kollam, Tiruchirappalli, and Chennai.
“Recognising long-distance travel demands, 20 trains have been operated to Patna and Danapur, along with several others to Gomtinagar, Lalkuan, Rishikesh, Howrah, Santragachi, Tinsukia, Narangi, Narsapur, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, and Bilaspur,” release added.
The release stated that major terminals, including SMVT Bengaluru, Krishnarajapuram, KSR Bengaluru, and Yesvantpur, have been equipped with exclusive holding areas with enhanced security, ticketing counters, drinking water, seating, and real-time passenger information systems. Queue management systems and round-the-clock supervision by officers have been introduced to ensure smooth operations and passenger convenience during the festive rush.
Published – October 18, 2025 08:59 am IST
