Holi Festival Triggers Massive Passenger Rush at Jaipur Railway Stations
Jaipur's railway infrastructure is being severely tested by an unprecedented surge in passenger traffic as the city prepares for the Holi festival next week. Chaotic scenes unfolded at multiple stations across the city, with particularly severe congestion reported at Jaipur Junction on Saturday.
Platforms Packed Beyond Capacity
Platforms 1 through 4 at Jaipur Junction witnessed overwhelming crowds as passengers with luggage, children, and family members struggled to navigate through the heavy congestion. The situation was similarly challenging at Gandhi Nagar railway station and Khatipura railway station, where areas from entrance gates to platforms were completely packed with commuters.
The rush was equally intense on both inbound trains arriving in Jaipur and outbound trains departing from the city. This dual-direction pressure reflects the traditional Holi migration pattern, where many residents leave Jaipur to celebrate in their hometowns while numerous people working or studying elsewhere in the country return to the city for the festival.
Bus Strike Exacerbates Railway Pressure
Railway authorities confirmed that the recent bus strike, which ended late Thursday night, significantly contributed to the increased passenger load on trains. A private bus operator based at Polo Victory explained the situation: "The strike ended late at night and we need time to rearrange our fleet, drivers and conductors. Services will fully resume from Saturday."
This transportation gap forced many travelers to shift to railway options, creating additional pressure on an already strained system during peak holiday travel season.
Passenger Frustration Mounts
Despite railway claims of special arrangements, many passengers expressed anger and frustration over the inadequate facilities. Anant Singh, who is traveling to Bihar, voiced a common complaint: "They claim they are running special trains and adding extra coaches, but there is no space. I tried booking tickets one week ago but none were available. Now I will try to adjust with my family in the general coach somehow."
Railway Response and Special Arrangements
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has deployed personnel at platforms and entry gates to regulate crowds and maintain order. Amit Sudarshan, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Western Railway, detailed the extensive measures being implemented:
"We are operating 35 special trains for destinations including Gorakhpur, Samastipur, Yog Nagari Rishikesh, Amritsar, Mysuru, Kakinada, Gomti Nagar, Bhavnagar Terminus, Howrah, Charlapalli, Tirupati, Mau and Sabarmati. We also extended the trips of 30 other holiday special trains for March."
Officials emphasized that passenger movement is being monitored round the clock, with additional arrangements prepared if required to manage the festive rush smoothly. Similar heavy footfall is anticipated to continue throughout the weekend as Holi celebrations approach.
