The Solapur Division of Central Railway has undertaken extensive and well-coordinated measures to ensure the safe, smooth and comfortable travel experience of lakhs of pilgrims visiting Pandharpur during the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi Fair 2025.

The ten-day Ashadhi Fair commenced on 1st July 2025 and will continue till 10th July 2025, with the main event Ashadhi Ekadashi falling on 6th July 2025. Over 15 to 16 lakh devotees are expected to visit Pandharpur during this period, out of which more than 2 lakh devotees are likely to travel by train from various parts of the country.

Recognising the massive scale of this pilgrimage, Railways have ensured a significant boost in train services. In addition to regular daily and weekly trains, the Division is operating 119 trips of Ashadhi Special Trains from 1st to 10th July 2025, ensuring smooth and timely connectivity for devotees traveling to and from Pandharpur. Railway officers from Solapur Division are camping at Pandharpur station which includes Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr DCM), Divisional Electrical Engineer (DEE), RPF’s Divisional Security Commissioner (DSC) & Assistant Security Commissioner (ASC) among others.

Passenger-Centric Arrangements at Pandharpur Station

Solapur Division has made comprehensive on-ground arrangements at Pandharpur station to handle the large influx of passengers effectively:

Fair Control Office: A centralised Fair Control Office has been established at Pandharpur station, manned round the clock by senior railway officials and staff. The control office is supported by surveillance with 62 CCTV cameras for real-time monitoring of all fair-related arrangements.

Ticketing Facilities: To address the surge in ticketing demand, special ticket booking counters, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), and mobile UTS devices have been deployed across key areas of the station.

Help Desks: May I Help You’ desks have been set up to assist passengers with queries and guidance, enhancing the overall passenger experience.

Ticket Checking Staff Ticket checking staff have been positioned across platforms to assist with ticketing, train boarding, and passenger guidance.

Force Deployment: RPF & GRP personnel are actively deployed at all platforms to ensure safety, enforce crowd control and assist passengers, particularly during peak hours.

Multi-lingual Announcements: Multi-lingual announcements in Marathi, Kannada, and Hindi keep passengers informed about train schedules and safety guidelines.

Info Boards & Signages: Digital train information boards and signage have been installed to help passengers navigate the station and platforms easily.

Crowd Management: Waiting areas within the station and holding zones outside platforms have been created for shelter, rest and smooth crowd dispersal, especially during heavy rains and rush hours.

Medical Support: An emergency medical room, equipped with an ambulance and round-the-clock medical staff from Divisional Railway Hospital, Solapur, is operational at the station to provide immediate medical attention to passengers in need.

Sanitation: Temporary toilet facilities have been provided to cater to sanitation needs.

Civil Defence: Civil Defence volunteers are supporting station staff in assisting passengers with travel-related help and safe movement within station premises.

The extensive measures undertaken by Solapur Division reflect its unwavering commitment to public service and passenger convenience. The coordinated efforts of railway officials, staff, and volunteers are playing a crucial role in ensuring a peaceful, safe and well-managed travel experience for all pilgrims visiting Pandharpur during this occasion.