Independence Day rush spurs rise in rail footfall; calls grow for special trains for Onam
Since Independence Day fell on Friday this year, Southern Railway introduced special services to manage the crowd, including the Mangaluru Junction-Thiruvananthapuram North Special on August 14 and 16, along with return services from Thiruvananthapuram North-Mangaluru Junction on August 15 and 17. Officials said these measures offered much relief to passengers at busy stations.
Senior officials of Southern Railway said that the rush is only a precursor to the heavier traffic during Onam. Sources said the passenger footfall is projected to rise by over 40% between September 4 and 7.
With this in mind, passengers have urged the Southern Railway to consider deploying additional Vande Bharat Express services for the festive season.
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