look news india
Ahmedabad, 28 October (Hindustan Reporter). Railways is continuing its efforts to control the crowd of passengers gathering at railway stations due to their eagerness to go home during festivals. However, in front of this crowd of people, this system is also like cumin in the camel's mouth. Long queues of passengers are being seen at many stations of the state including Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad. The railway administration has made every possible arrangement including increasing the bogies in the train so that the crowd can be controlled.
According to Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, festival special trains are being run for various destinations, including about 50 special trains for the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Along with this, in view of the crowd, various crowd management measures are being taken at major stations. The deployment of RPF and GRP personnel was increased to ensure smooth movement of passengers. Railway officials are deployed round the clock to monitor the situation and manage the crisis.
Every year a large number of people from all over the country come to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for Diwali and Chhath Puja. This year Western Railway is running 200 special trains during the festive season of Diwali/Chhath Puja. Of these, about 40 trains are being run by Mumbai division of Western Railway for various destinations, including 22 trains for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. The operation of additional special trains is being monitored by senior officials at divisional and headquarters level, which is also planned accordingly. Similarly, the waiting list of trains is also monitored daily on real time basis. These special trains are in addition to the regular trains run by Western Railways to these destinations. Additional coaches are also added to regular trains as per availability and demand.
To monitor and control crowd, deployment of maximum staff has been ensured at high traffic stations like Surat, Udhna, Vadodara, Ahmedabad including Bandra Terminus etc. Further, Western Railway has imposed a temporary ban on the sale of platform tickets at select major stations in Mumbai Division with immediate effect till November 8, 2024. These stations are Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra Terminus, Borivali, Vasai Road, Vapi, Valsad, Udhna and Surat. The move is aimed at managing crowding on the platforms and ensuring smooth movement of passengers within the station premises. Western Railway appeals to all its valued passengers to avoid overcrowding at stations and allow only genuine passengers to enter the station premises as per train timings.
Vineet said that Western Railways has taken several precautionary measures and various detailed arrangements have been made for proper implementation of crowd management at these stations. Holding areas are available at Udhna and Surat stations. Also, a new waiting area has been created near PF No. 04 at Surat station. 50 license assistants are being deployed in two shifts from Surat to Udhna. Information banners/standees about the special train have been displayed at prominent places. Round-the-clock checking staff has been deployed at all entry/exit points in Udhna. In view of the extra rush at Bandra Terminus, Surat and Udhna stations during Diwali/Chhath Puja, additional ticket counters and ATVM machines are being operated in multiple shifts. Additional shifts are being operated at ticket counters at Vapi and Valsad stations.
RPF and GRP personnel have been deployed round the clock to control crowd at entry/exit points and platforms. Additionally, RPF/GRP personnel have been deployed at the gate of each coach to guide the passengers. For better management, a holding area has been created for passengers at Surat and Udhna station premises, so that they can wait comfortably in case of early arrival. These areas are equipped with basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation facilities etc.
