Railway Ministry implements new crowd control measures at stations

Mail News Service

New Delhi, Mar 7: A high-level meeting chaired by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was held to address crowd control at railway stations. Several key decisions were made to enhance passenger management and ensure smoother operations at major stations across the country.

To manage sudden surges in passenger numbers, permanent waiting areas will be established outside 60 stations that frequently experience overcrowding. These waiting areas, successfully implemented during the 2024 festival season at Surat, Udhna, Patna and New Delhi, as well as during Mahakumbh at nine Prayagraj stations, will now become a standard feature. Pilot projects have already begun at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Patna. Passengers will be allowed onto platforms only when their trains arrive, preventing congestion inside stations.

A complete access control system will be introduced at these stations. Passengers with confirmed reserved tickets will be granted direct access to platforms, while those without tickets or holding waiting-list tickets will remain in the designated waiting areas. Unauthorized entry points will be sealed to prevent overcrowding. Additionally, the railway will install newly designed foot-over-bridges (FOBs) measuring 12 meters (40 feet) and 6 meters (20 feet) in width, with ramps to facilitate smooth passenger movement. These wider FOBs proved effective during Mahakumbh and will now be incorporated into all stations.

CCTV cameras played a crucial role in crowd management during Mahakumbh and their installation will be expanded across railway stations and surrounding areas to enhance monitoring. War rooms will also be developed at large stations, where officers from different departments will coordinate efforts during crowd situations. To further improve communication, new-generation digital equipment such as walkie-talkies, announcement systems and calling systems will be installed at all high-traffic stations.

Ensuring better identification and security, all railway staff and service personnel will receive redesigned ID cards, restricting station entry to authorized personnel only. Staff members will also be provided with newly designed uniforms to make them easily identifiable during emergencies.

The role of the Station Director will be upgraded at major stations, with senior officers taking charge. The Station Director will have financial powers to make on-the-spot decisions to improve station operations. Additionally, they will be authorized to regulate ticket sales based on the station’s capacity and the availability of trains, ensuring smoother passenger movement.