Western Railway authorities have launched mobile ticketing facilities at Udhna Railway Station in Surat, aiming to streamline passenger movement amid the ongoing Diwali and Chhath Puja exodus. The initiative targets homebound migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar travelling on unreserved festival special trains, who have been facing long queues at conventional ticket counters.
The pilot facility, operational from Wednesday, features six clerks stationed in passenger holding areas, each equipped with a tablet and printer linked directly to the railway server. Passengers can now purchase general tickets for their destinations on-site using cash, reducing wait times and congestion at the ticketing centre. Railway officials reported that over 1,500 tickets were sold through this facility on its first day, reflecting strong demand and early success. The step comes in response to a surge in festival travel from Surat, particularly among migrant workers employed in the textile sector. In recent days, more than 56,000 passengers have departed from Surat and Udhna stations en route to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. On Wednesday alone, eight trains carrying thousands of passengers departed from Udhna, supported by crowd control measures involving the Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police, and local police authorities.
Officials highlighted that the mobile ticketing facility is a pilot measure, which will be expanded to nearby stations if required. The service is part of a broader effort to enhance passenger convenience, reduce operational bottlenecks, and improve efficiency in festive travel management. Complementing the railway initiative, the Gujarat State Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has announced a record deployment of 1,600 special buses from Surat to regions including Saurashtra, Panchmahal, and North Gujarat between October 16 and 19. This expansion builds on last year’s operations of 1,400 buses, which transported approximately 90,000 passengers and generated Rs 3.5 crore in revenue. Group travel bookings under the ST Aapna Dwar scheme further enable residents to travel conveniently in clusters to their native locations.
Railway and transport officials emphasised that these combined measures reflect a concerted effort to improve urban mobility during peak festive periods while maintaining operational efficiency and safety. Authorities are also monitoring traffic and passenger flow to ensure that the services remain sustainable and scalable in future. The introduction of mobile ticketing and additional transport services at Surat signals a shift towards more technology-driven, user-friendly, and inclusive public transport systems in Indian cities, prioritising citizen convenience and equitable access.
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