Navratri Upgrades: NCR Enhances Facilities at Vindhyachal Station

To manage the Navratri rush, North Central Railway is adding extra coaches, special stoppages, and five new ticket counters at Vindhyachal Station. The Varanasi Municipal Corporation will close meat shops during the festival, backed by enforcement drives and awareness campaigns. Navratri coincides with Eid in 2025.

In preparation for the Navratri festival surge, North Central Railway (NCR) is rolling out passenger-friendly enhancements at Vindhyachal Railway Station, situated in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj division. Recognizing the influx to the revered Vindhyavasini Mata temple, five additional ticket counters, extra coaches, and special train stoppages will be implemented to ease the gathering crowd.

Shashikant Tripathi, Chief Public Relations Officer of NCR, indicated that the increased halts for five regular trains during Navratri would boost station accessibility. Furthermore, two general coaches are being added to the Triveni Express and Chopan-Prayagraj Express to accommodate more travelers. These steps aim to streamline entry and exit for worshippers visiting the sacred site during this period.

Complementing the transport measures, facilities such as upgraded toilets, a lost and found center, and an enquiry desk will be established to enhance passenger convenience. Parallelly, Varanasi Municipal Corporation has announced a closure of all meat shops in the city during Navratri in observance of the festival, reinforced by proactive awareness and enforcement measures.

Municipal Commissioner Akshat Verma has set the wheels in motion to ensure adherence to the closure, revealing plans for a public awareness campaign and monitoring efforts via mobile units. This announcement adheres to the executive board's decision and underscores the cultural significance of Navratri, a period devoted to worshiping Goddess Durga and her avatars. Notably, the upcoming festival in 2025 may coincide with Eid-ul-Fitr, adding further vibrancy to this religiously significant time.

(With inputs from agencies.)