The Business Bytes
New Delhi, November 28, 2024: Indian Railways has registered a remarkable revenue of Rs 12,159.35 crore from ticket sales during the festive period spanning from September 1 to October 31, 2024. This surge in earnings, attributed to a wave of festivals including Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, and Diwali, underscores the growing demand for rail travel in India during the festive season.
The data, presented by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Parliament, reveals that an astounding 143.71 crore passengers traveled by train during this two-month period. The central zone led with the highest footfall, recording 31.63 crore passengers, followed by the western zone at 26.13 crore, and the eastern zone with 24.67 crore passengers. In contrast, the south-east central zone saw the least passenger traffic at 1.48 crore.
To manage the festive rush, Indian Railways introduced 7,663 special train services between October 1 and November 30, marking a significant 73% increase compared to last year’s 4,429 additional services. These efforts were essential in accommodating the surge in travelers, particularly during peak periods such as Diwali and Chhath festivals.
From October 24 to November 4, Indian Railways transported 957.24 lakh non-suburban passengers, a rise of nearly 34 lakh compared to the same period in 2023. November 4, 2024, stood out as a record-breaking day, with over 1.2 crore passengers utilizing the services, including 19.43 lakh reserved and more than 1 crore unreserved non-suburban travelers.
The Railway Board’s announcement also highlighted the deployment of 207 special trains on November 3 and 203 on November 4 to manage the unprecedented demand.
