Holding Areas, Walkie-Talkies and CCTV: Ahmedabad Railways’ Plan to Manage Diwali Rush
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
With passenger numbers rising ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja, the Railways has introduced special crowd-management arrangements at Ahmedabad’s Kalupur and Sabarmati railway stations to ensure safe boarding and prevent overcrowding.
Special holding areas have been set up at both stations, equipped with lights, fans, drinking water and separate toilet facilities. Passengers are being guided to these designated areas and asked to wait in organised queues. They will be allowed onto the platforms for boarding once their respective trains arrive.
The arrangements are aimed at preventing passengers from crowding platforms, pushing during boarding and creating unsafe conditions, particularly for trains heading towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which are witnessing heavy demand.
Extra RPF and GRP Personnel Deployed
The Railways has deployed additional Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel at both stations to manage passenger movement and maintain order.
RPF teams are using walkie-talkies to coordinate with one another and respond quickly to crowd-related situations. CCTV cameras are also being used to monitor passenger movement. Security personnel will be alerted and deployed wherever unusually large crowds are noticed.
The commercial department, RPF and GRP are jointly overseeing the arrangements, including queue management and the movement of passengers from holding areas to platforms.
Rush Expected to Increase Before Diwali
Passenger traffic generally rises at Ahmedabad railway stations during the Diwali and Chhath Puja travel season, with a large number of people travelling to their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Officials expect the rush to increase further over the coming weekend, as many employees receive their monthly salaries ahead of Diwali. The holding areas and additional security arrangements are intended to manage the expected surge while making the boarding process safer and more orderly.
