To Help With Massive IndiGo Cancellations, IRCTC Sets Up Ticket Counter For Trains At Ahmedabad Airport

When the country’s largest airline suffers a sudden meltdown, the ripple effect is felt everywhere. That’s exactly what has been happening over the past week as IndiGo faced a major operational breakdown due to crew shortages. Across India, passengers were left waiting for hours, and flight boards were filled with cancellations and delays. But in Ahmedabad, something unusual happened when Indian Railways stepped in.

IRCTC Sets Up Emergency Ticket Counter Inside Ahmedabad Airport

To help passengers stuck at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, the Ministry of Railways and IRCTC have opened a special helpdesk right inside the airport terminal. This means travellers no longer have to rush out, find a station, or struggle with online bookings. They can now simply walk up to the counter, check for train availability and buy a ticket instantly.

IRCTC official Shubham Arya clarified that this counter was set up inside the airport to assist travellers impacted by flight delays and cancellations, according to ANI via The Economic Times. There are currently two special trains operating to Delhi, and tickets can be purchased directly. It’s a rare, almost first-of-its-kind move, turning the airport into a temporary railway booking centre.

Because flight disruptions have pushed thousands of people toward train travel, Indian Railways has also prepared extra services across several routes, especially from Gujarat. The Sabarmati–Delhi Special Train from Sabarmati/Ahmedabad on December 7 and 9 is ideal for late-night travellers whose flights were abruptly cancelled.

The Sabarmati–Delhi Sarai Rohilla Special is also running on December 7, proving to be a dependable choice in case of flight shortages. Western Railway is also adding more coaches to accommodate as many stranded passengers as possible, according to The Economic Times.

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Railways Becomes The Unexpected Saviour

The chaos started with a severe crew shortage triggered by the implementation of revised FDTL norms. As duty schedules changed, IndiGo wasn’t able to deploy enough crew across its network, and the entire system collapsed under the pressure. Flights were cancelled at the last minute, and many said they got little or no information from the airline

In moments of large-scale travel chaos in India, the Railways often becomes the most dependable fallback option. But this time, their response has been unusually innovative. By opening a counter at Ahmedabad airport and launching special trains overnight, IRCTC is offering clarity, speed, and an actual way to get home.

The move also shows how government agencies can work together when a major crisis hits the aviation sector.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Rupturestriker