New Delhi, Oct.25,2025:The Indian Railways, anticipating the massive travel surge during Diwali and Chhath, announced that they would run up to 12,000 special train trips (not necessarily 12,000 distinct trains) over the festive period-
For instance, the Central Railway (CR) alone stated they planned around 1,702 special trains to cater to the surge, starting from major terminals including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Pune, Kolhapur and Nagpur.
At the same time, passenger feedback from some quarters appears positive: certain travellers praised improvements in cleanliness, crowd-management and décor, citing the timely operations of special trains.
So far, on paper: intention, resources and announcements appear considerable.
What Rahul Gandhi is alleging
In this context, Rahul Gandhi has publicly questioned the effectiveness of these arrangements. His key allegations-
- He claimed trains travelling to Bihar for Chhath are “packed to 200% capacity” with people hanging from doors and even roofs.
- He asked: “Where are the 12,000 special trains?” — implying that the promise is unfulfilled.
- He suggested the situation is symptomatic of deeper issues: lack of dignified employment in Bihar forcing people to travel thousands of kilometers for work and then back for festivals; the “double-engine” government’s claims are hollow if people must suffer such journeys.
- He asserted that travel with safety, respect and comfort is a right, not an favour.
While I did not find a direct link to the exact quote as posted by Gandhi in the sources I accessed, his broader criticism of railway safety and work-conditions is documented.
In effect, his message: The Chhath train crowd crisis is not just logistical — it’s political, social and reflects the state of infrastructure and dignity in transit.
On-the-ground data & crowd reality
Travel surge
- According to a report from Mumbai, around 1 lakh passengers daily from Mumbai to UP/Bihar during Diwali-Chhath period by 50+ trains (CR + WR) were recorded.
- The Delhi division of the Northern Railway (NR) ramped up security and holding areas at major stations like New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Sarai Rohilla due to the Chhath rush.
- In Bhopal, stations such as Rani Kamlapati and Bhopal reported heavy crowds; more coaches were added, holding areas prepared, but passenger complaints of overpricing and overcrowding surfaced. 3.2 The “12,000 special train trips” claim
- The 12,000 figure apparently refers to trips (i.e., runs) of special trains over the festive window, not necessarily 12,000 unique train sets.
- The East Central Railway (ECR) clarified that fewer trains may run multiple trips.
Gaps, complaints & risks
- Despite arrangements, passengers still complain about overcrowding, difficulty in finding confirmed seats (particularly to Bihar/Jharkhand/UP).
- Infrastructure constraints (platforms, tracks, scheduling) especially in high-demand areas like Bihar have been raised as issues by passenger associations.
- Overcrowding carries safety risks: prior incidents elsewhere (though not necessarily linked directly to Chhath) show that large crowds in railway stations can lead to crushes and fatalities.
Why the promise of 12,000 special train trips is controversial
Realistic vs rhetorical figures
The number “12,000” carries weight — it sounds massive, signalling comprehensive coverage and relief. But when tempered by the clarification that it refers to trips rather than distinct trains, a few issues arise-
- Each trip may carry only standard capacities; if a route remains congested, one extra trip might still not suffice.
- Infrastructure bottlenecks (platforms, track slots, terminal turnaround) limit how many trips can truly meet demand.
- When demand spikes dramatically (e.g., seasonally for Chhath), even enhanced capacity may fall short.
Infrastructure & scheduling stress
Passenger bodies, especially from Bihar, have questioned feasibility: their region has high outbound and inbound traffic during Chhath, yet railway infrastructure there is already under strain.
For example-
- The need for extra coaches, holding areas, applied crowd control etc. suggests that simply “more trips” may not solve deeper capacity constraints.
- If many trains are already overcrowded, adding more trips may shift congestion rather than relieve it.
The dignity dimension
Rahul Gandhi’s line isn’t just about numbers — it draws attention to the experience of the traveler: tickets hard to get, journeys that are “inhumane”, people hanging from doors/roofs. If true, the issue is not only quantitative but qualitative — the right to safe, respectful travel.
The political-social dimension: dignity, infrastructure and the migrant question
Travel as a reflection of employment and opportunity
Gandhi’s critique links the travel situation to broader socio-economic issues:
“If people in the state got employment and a respectable life, they wouldn’t have to wander thousands of kilometres to return home for festivals.”
This connects the Chhath train crowd crisis to migration, labour, regional imbalance and infrastructure.
Accountability and public promise
When governments announce big figures (12,000 special trips), public expectation rises. When travellers see packed coaches, long queues, discomfort — credibility suffers. Gandhi’s political framing leverages that mismatch.
Infrastructure vs hope
The Indian Railways is a vast system, but festive surges test its limits. The holding areas, CCTV up-grades, extra RPF/GRP personnel all show proactive steps (e.g., Delhi division ramping up security).
Yet when passengers still feel unsafe or treated unfairly, the narrative shifts from “festival travel” to “systemic neglect”. The Chhath train crowd crisis becomes a symbol of that.
solutions and take-aways
Here are actionable suggestions tied to the Chhath train crowd crisis–
Capacity boosting and better utilization
- Not just more special trains/trips, but more coaches, better turn-around, platform upgrades especially on high-demand routes (to Bihar/Jharkhand/UP).
- Dynamic scheduling: real-time assessment of waiting lists, standby extra coaches.
- Infrastructure investments: more platforms, better terminal handling in source and destination cities.
Better crowd-management and traveller dignity
- Holding areas (as some stations have done) with water, toilets, seating — not just dumping people on platforms. Bhopal’s effort is a positive example.
- Clear communication: real-time alerts, dedicated counters for seniors/disabled, better signage.
- Monitoring ticket issuance, ensuring no over-crowding beyond safe limits.
Transparency and accountability
- If huge numbers (like 12,000 trips) are announced, periodic public updates on how many have actually run, how many passengers served, any cancellations/delays, complaint redressal.
- Allow passengers/associations to raise issues in real time — ticketing, crowding, safety.
- Public auditing of high-demand corridors during festive surges.
Addressing structural causes
- Recognise that massive festive travel is partly a symptom of migration and uneven development. Creating local jobs, strengthening local connectivity would reduce frantic long-distance travel.
- Create long-term plans for states with heavy inbound/outbound festival flows: Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP — targeted infrastructure investment.
The Chhath train crowd crisis is more than a travel-story — it’s a mirror to how millions attempt to journey home under pressure, how promises are made vs lived reality, and how infrastructure, dignity and policy converge at a railway platform.
Match the scale of the surge with the scale of the response — only then can the rhetoric of “12,000 special train trips” convert into respectable, safe and dignified journeys for travellers. As Rahul Gandhi has challenged, asking the question is just step one — now comes the delivery, so the festival of Chhath becomes not a struggle but a reunion.
