Pune Railway Station Diwali Rush: RPF Adds Night-Vision Drones, 170 CCTV Cameras and 17 Metal Detectors as Footfall Heads to 3 Lakh a Day

Pune, 1st November 2026: Pune railway station is bracing for its busiest fortnight of the year. With around three lakh passengers a day expected during Diwali, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has stepped up security, using 170 CCTV cameras, night-vision drones and extra patrols across all platforms.

Priyanka Sharma, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF Pune, has outlined the arrangements. All 170 cameras are working and monitored round the clock, and passengers entering the station will pass through 17 door-frame metal detectors and two advanced baggage scanners.

Drones over the yards, not the platforms

The drones are a new touch. They fly three to four nights a week over the railway yards and other vulnerable stretches, looking for theft, people crossing tracks and stone-pelting on trains. They do not fly over the platforms because the overhead electric wires and platform roofs make that unsafe. The platforms are covered by the CCTV network and by RPF staff on foot.

How crowds are being managed

Since 15 October, a dedicated team at the railway divisional control room has been tracking passenger movement. When the cameras show a platform or entry point getting too crowded, an alert goes out on official WhatsApp groups to the officers responsible, so they can open more gates, stagger entry or hold people back. Long-distance trains to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states see the heaviest crowds in the days before the festival.

Tips if you are travelling from Pune station this Diwali

• Reach early. Allow at least 45 minutes for security checks and crowds, more for unreserved and general coaches.
• Check platform ticket rules. Sale of platform tickets is restricted on certain days to reduce crowding. See our report on platform ticket restrictions in November.
• Keep valuables close. Mobile phone and bag thefts rise in crowds. Keep your phone in a front pocket and your bag in front of you while boarding.
• Use the official helpline. For security issues on a train or at the station, call the railway helpline 139. For general emergencies, dial 112.
• Do not carry firecrackers. Carrying inflammable material, including crackers, on trains is an offence under the Railways Act.
• Consider other stations. Some trains also stop at Hadapsar, Shivajinagar or Khadki, which can be easier to reach from your area. Check your train’s stops on the NTES app.

More trains this season

Central Railway has announced special trains for the festival rush. Our list of Diwali special trains from Pune has the routes, and the new Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper also stops at Pune.

Frequently asked questions