Diwali Rush: Platform Ticket Sale Restricted At Pune Railway Station From November 1 To 15
Central Railway has restricted platform ticket sales at Pune railway station from November 1 to 15, 2026, to manage the Diwali and Chhath festival rush.
Photo: Meghavbafana / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 29th October 2026: If you were planning to see someone off at Pune station this Diwali, you’ll probably have to say your goodbyes at the entrance. Central Railway has stopped the sale of platform tickets at Pune railway station from November 1 to November 15, 2026, to handle the Diwali and Chhath rush.
Hemant Kumar Behera, Public Relations Officer of the Pune Division, said the step is meant to manage crowd movement and keep passengers safe.
Anyone who has been to the station during the festival season knows why. Thousands of people head home to other parts of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and beyond, and when special trains arrive and leave close together, the platforms and foot overbridges get dangerously crowded.
Who can still get a platform ticket
The restriction is not absolute. Tickets will still be sold to people accompanying:
- senior citizens
- sick passengers
- children
- passengers who cannot read or write
- women passengers who need help with their journey
If you fall in one of these groups, keep the passenger’s ticket details handy. Staff may ask why you need to go onto the platform.
A few practical things
Reach early. Security checks and queues take much longer during the rush. Check your train’s platform and running status on the NTES app or the station boards before you go in. Travel light if you can, and keep your ticket and ID within reach.
Getting to the station is often the hardest part. Drop-off areas get jammed in the evenings, so the Metro is worth considering; the Pune Railway Station Metro stop is right next to the station. Once inside, listen to the RPF and railway staff, and don’t rush on the stairs or bridges.
Travelling elsewhere this season? Have a look at our winter weekend getaways near Pune and Pune Airport’s new winter schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a platform ticket at Pune station in November 2026?
Only if you are accompanying a senior citizen, sick passenger, child, a passenger who cannot read or write, or a woman who needs help. Sales are otherwise restricted from November 1 to 15.
Why are platform tickets restricted during Diwali?
To control crowds on platforms during the Diwali and Chhath rush and to keep passengers safe.
When will normal platform ticket sales resume?
The restriction is in place until November 15, 2026. Normal sales are expected to resume after that unless Central Railway extends it.
