Indian Railways successfully managed large scale passenger movement during the Mauni Amavasya period by operating 244 special trains across the country since January 3, 2026, ensuring smooth, safe and uninterrupted travel for devotees. Over a span of just two weeks, these special services carried more than 4.5 lakh passengers.
The special trains were operated through coordinated efforts of multiple railway zones, including 31 trains by Northern Railway, 158 trains by North Central Railway and 55 trains by North Eastern Railway. Careful planning, resource deployment and operational coordination enabled the railways to handle the festive rush efficiently without inconvenience to regular passengers.
The peak of festive travel was recorded on January 18, when Prayagraj emerged as the focal point of passenger movement. On that single day, 40 special trains were run, including 11 by Northern Railway, 22 by North Central Railway and seven by North Eastern Railway. These trains transported around one lakh passengers, reflecting the intensity of demand during the holy bathing occasion.
Significantly, all scheduled regular trains continued to operate as per timetable, highlighting the robustness of planning and execution. The seamless integration of special services with the existing timetable ensured that festival related arrangements did not disrupt normal rail operations.
The successful handling of Mauni Amavasya traffic underscores the railways’ commitment to providing safe, convenient and reliable services during peak religious and cultural events. Leveraging technology, advance planning and inter zonal coordination, Indian Railways continues to strengthen its capacity to manage high density passenger movements during major festivals.
