Patna: With an additional 10 lakh to 15 lakh passengers expected to arrive in different parts of Bihar during Diwali and Chhath Puja, the railways has drawn up a comprehensive plan to set up holding areas at Patna Junction and other major stations to manage the festive rush, particularly the heavy return traffic after Chhath.East Central Railway (ECR) chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra said the initiative is aimed at regulating passenger movement, preventing overcrowding on platforms and averting stampede-like situations during the festive season. The holding areas will accommodate thousands of passengers and provide essential amenities.Arrangements will also be made to issue unreserved tickets at these facilities to prevent passengers from crowding ticket counters and platforms, he said.Patna Junction will have a holding area with a capacity of 4,000 passengers, while Danapur station will accommodate 3,000. Rajendra Nagar Terminal and Patliputra Junction will each have facilities for 2,000 passengers.Muzaffarpur station will have a holding capacity of 3,000 passengers, Darbhanga 2,000 and Samastipur between 1,500 and 2,000, Chandra said.The railways expects the return journey after Chhath to put considerable pressure on stations in Bihar as a large number of people head back to their workplaces in different parts of the country.The holding areas will allow passengers to wait in designated spaces until their trains arrive instead of crowding platforms and station entrances. Unreserved ticketing facilities and other passenger amenities are also expected to help ease congestion during peak hours, the CPRO said.Security personnel will be strategically deployed at major stations, with special attention to platforms, entry and exit points and other crowded areas. Railway authorities will also regulate passenger movement to ensure safe and orderly boarding.Chandra said the holding areas would play a crucial role in managing the heavy passenger movement during the festive season.