**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 637, the Ministry of Railways outlines arrangements for the anticipated increase in pilgrim traffic during the 2025 Kanwar Mela and Char Dham Yatra. Indian Railways will operate special trains and augment existing train loads, subject to operational feasibility and traffic justification, to accommodate the additional passengers. As of July 17, 2025, 1038 special train trips have been notified for the Shravani Mela 2025.
The RailOne App will provide pilgrims with access to essential services such as reserved, unreserved, and platform ticket booking, train search, coach position, train tracking, PNR enquiry, and RailMadad.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is implementing enhanced security measures in coordination with the Government Railway Police and other stakeholders. These measures include increased security personnel deployment, the use of surveillance technology like CCTV and Hand Held Metal Detectors (HHMD), proactive engagement with passengers through social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), and the continuous operation of Railway Helpline number 139, integrated with Emergency Response Support System No. 112, for passenger assistance.
Key Entities Referenced
Kanwar Mela: A Hindu pilgrimage and festival during which devotees of Shiva travel to Haridwar, Uttarakhand, to collect water from the Ganges River.
Char Dham Yatra: A pilgrimage to four holy sites in Uttarakhand, India: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT: A Member of Parliament who raised a question about railway arrangements for the Kanwar Mela and Char Dham Yatra.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, responsible for answering the question about railway arrangements.
Indian Railways: The national railway system of India, responsible for operating special trains and providing facilities for pilgrims.
Shravani Mela 2025: A fair held in the month of Shravan of the Hindu calendar.
RailOne App: A mobile application providing passenger-related facilities like ticket booking, train tracking, and PNR enquiry.
Railway Protection Force RPF: The security force responsible for maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of passengers and railway property.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 637
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR KANWAR MELA/CHAR DHAM YATRA
†637. SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT :
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the rail services have been strengthened
keeping in view the increasing number of pilgrims during the Kanwar
Mela and Char Dham Yatra during the year 2025;
(b) the details of the special trains operated/likely to be operated for
the above said purposes along with the names of major stations where
platform facilities have been expanded and the manner in which
additional staff have been deployed/likely to be deployed on these
stations;
(c) the details of the important facilities provided/likely to be provided
to the pilgrims through digital means such as RailOne App; and
(d) the details of special arrangements made for smooth monitoring,
management and coordination of the said special rail services?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d) Indian Railways, subject to operational feasibility, traffic
justification etc, operates Special trains to cater extra rush of pilgrimsduring Mela/Yatra/festive season, vacations, for destinations of
tourist/pilgrim importance to facilitate passengers. Indian Railways,
to provide additional accommodation, also augments the loads of
trains on a temporary basis for pilgrims during the Mela/Yatra/festive
seasons. Accordingly, Indian Railways till 17th July have notified
1038 trips of special trains to facilitate piligrims during Shravani Mela -
2025.
RailOne App provides important passenger related facilities like
booking of reserved, unreserved and platform tickets, options of
search train, coach position, tracking of train running, PNR enquiry,
RailMadad, etc. which can be availed of by the pilgrims.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is implementing comprehensive
security measures for smooth flow of passengers/pilgrims coming
to/going from various railway stations during ongoing Shravani
Mela/Char Dham Yatra in coordination with Government Railway Police
and other stakeholders. This includes:
(i) Deployment of extra security personnel.
(ii) Use of modern gadgets for surveillance like CCTV, Hand Held Metal
Detector (HHMD) etc.
(iii) Keeping regular touch with passengers through various social
media platforms like. Twitter, Facebook, etc. to enhance security of
passengers and to address their security concerns.
(iv) Railway Help Line number 139 (integrated with Emergency
Response Support System No. 112) is operational (24x7) over Indian
Railways, for passengers’ assistance.
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