The South Central Railway (SCR) successfully managed the heavy Sankranti festival rush by operating 209 special trains between January 7 and 18, 2026, in addition to regular services.

Around one crore passengers travelled across the zone during this period - about 10 lakh more than last year - reflecting increased festive travel demand. Major stations such as Secunderabad, Kacheguda, Lingampalli and Charlapalli witnessed record footfall.

Special trains were operated from key stations including Secunderabad, Kacheguda, Lingampalli, Tirupati and Nanded to major destinations across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Senior railway officials monitored operations at busy stations, while additional ticket counters, frequent announcements, enhanced security deployment, and real-time monitoring ensured smooth, safe, and hassle-free travel for passengers.