Indian Railways is running an AI-enabled War Room at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi to watch the Diwali and Chhath festive rush in real time, with live monitoring of passenger movement at 38 major stations across the country. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the facility's functioning on Saturday and assessed crowd-management arrangements and operational preparedness, an official statement said.

Source: IANS

The centralised facility combines live CCTV feeds, AI-based systems and real-time operational data so officials can track crowds at several stations at once and respond quickly as situations develop. New Delhi Railway Station is among the busiest points on the network, with Vaishnaw saying daily passenger footfall there has reached around eight lakh during the festive period, as large numbers of travellers head towards Bihar and other parts of North India for Chhath Puja.

Source: Trak.in

To keep platforms from overcrowding, dedicated passenger holding areas have been set up at 20 railway stations so travellers can wait safely until their trains arrive, alongside dedicated ticket counters and multiple scanning facilities for smoother entry. Vaishnaw said preparations for the festive rush began nearly six months in advance, with special attention to the expected surge ahead of Chhath.

Source: IANS

The minister also visited Anand Vihar Railway Station in Delhi and interacted with passengers to gather first-hand feedback on the arrangements made for the festive-season surge, the official said. According to the Railway Ministry, AI-based tools in the War Room support prompt analysis of activities and incidents at specific locations, helping officials assess emerging situations and initiate timely responses.

Source: Railway Ministry statement via The Times of Bengal

The War Room will continue operating through the festive peak, when festival travel for Diwali and Chhath puts some of the year's heaviest pressure on the rail network. More than 18,000 special trains are being run this season, compared with around 12,000 in the corresponding period last year.

Source: The Indian Witness