RAILWAY : SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY RAILWAYS FOR CROWD MANAGEMENT AT STATIONS DURING CHHATH FESTIVAL

TTT NEWS NETWORK

KOLKATA, 1 NOVEMBER  2024:

For facilitating easy movement of passengers during Chhath Puja, Indian Railways have taken comprehensive measures for optimised crowd management.

On the occasion of festivals, 7,296 special trains are being run by Indian Railways, While 4,500 special trains were run last year.

On October 31, the Railway ran more than 150 special trains. 158 special trains are being operated on November 1, 2024.

Indian Railway has made special arrangements for the convenience of passengers. A queue-based entry system has been implemented for boarding the trains. Additional staff and railway protection force personnel have been deployed for crowd management.

It is planned to operate 164 long-distance special trains on November 2, 2024.

Special arrangements over Eastern Railway for Chhath Puja:

Facilitating travel of passengers for to & fro movement from working place to home station, Eastern Railway is running 58 festival special trains. Besides, 40 special trains run by other Zonal Railways also originating/terminating at Eastern Railway stations. Moreover, 42 other special trains are also passing through Eastern Railway network. All these special trains constitutes total of 972 trips facilitating movement of passengers during festive season.

Special arrangements made at Railway stations for crowd management as follows:

• At all important stations special holding area has been created managed by RPF and Commercial staff for facilitating the train specified rush so that the passengers can easily board the intended train.
• All Unreserved Ticketing Counters are being operated round the clock at Howrah station.
• Additional 02 UTS counters are also being operated at PRS Office, Howrah station.
• UTS counters are being operated by the Division within Howrah Metro Railway premises to facilitate seamless connectivity to the passengers of Metro Railway who are bound for suburban section Howrah.
• All UTS counters are provided with Digital Payment facility.
• At Jasidih station in total (11) ticket windows are running along with four (4) ATVMs. Four (4) Counters are running in Morning Shift, 4 in Evening Shift & 3 Counters are running in Night Shift at Jasidih. It has been planned to run 2 additional booking counters to be opened w.e.f. 2.11.2024.
• At Asansol station in total (16) ticket windows are running along with seven (7) ATVMs. Among these, six (6) Counters are running in Morning Shift, 6 in Evening Shift & 4 Counters are running in Night Shift at Asansol. At Asansol also 2 additional booking counters will be opened from 2.11.2024.
• At Bhagalpur total 7 booking counters will be opened that is two (2) extra from the existing 5 counters. Similarly , one additional booking counters has been planned each at Jamalpur and Malda Town station.
• Apart from these, all ATVMs will be in working condition and Eastern Railway’s staff & inspectors will be there to help the passengers when in need.
• Officers of Commercial Department and other departments are posted at Howrah, Barddhaman, Sealdah, Kolkata, Bolpur, Rampurhat, Asansol, Jasidih, Malda & Jamalpur stations for monitoring the situation & facilitating easy movement of passengers.

RPF personnel are also counselling the Railway passengers regarding special precautions to be taken during the journey like not to carry inflammable articles, not to hurry to take food from unknown persons etc. for safe journey of the passengers. Eastern Railway urges upon all passengers while travelling during this festive season not to carry inflammable articles or not to litter Railway premises for their safe & happy journey.