Ahmedabad: To manage crowds and ensure smooth passenger flow during the festive season, the Ahmedabad and Vadodara divisions of Western Railway (WR) have banned the sale of platform tickets at six stations in Gujarat.

The Ahmedabad Division of WR has suspended platform ticket sales at Ahmedabad (Kalupur), Sabarmati, and Asarwa stations due to increased passenger traffic, especially from migrant workers traveling home for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Now, only passengers with valid travel tickets can enter these stations.

The ban took effect on October 27 and will last until November 6, according to Monday’s announcement. Festive-season trains like the Jansadharan Express, which transports migrant workers to North and East India, have been witnessing a high demand. A member of the WR Regional Rail Users Consultative Committee recently urged the general manager to add special trains to accommodate the holiday rush. In the Vadodara Division, platform ticket sales have also been suspended at Vadodara, Bharuch, and Chhayapuri stations until November 10.

This measure aims to reduce platform congestion and facilitate orderly passenger movement, the railway authorities stated. The restriction will be enforced immediately through November 10, with exemptions for senior citizens and those with medical conditions.