Mail News Service
Kolkata, Oct 21: South Eastern Railway (SER) has rolled out comprehensive measures to manage the surge in passenger traffic during the festive season.
Speaking at a media briefing at SER Headquarters, Garden Reach in Kolkata today the General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra highlighted the railway’s plans to ensure smooth and safe travel during festivals.
Accompanied by Additional General Manager Soumitra Majumdar and senior departmental heads, Mishra said that the railway is fully prepared to handle the high passenger demand.
This year, Indian Railways is running over 12,000 special trains, up from 7,724 last year. SER alone has operated 922 special trains till October 20, surpassing last year’s 832.
To ease crowd management, temporary holding areas have been set up at major stations, with several stations marked for permanent holding zones next year.
A 24/7 war room system is in operation at SER Headquarters and all divisional offices, monitoring live CCTV feeds and addressing passenger complaints promptly.
Currently, SER is running six regular specials and eleven additional festival trains, while sixteen trains from other zones are passing through SER’s network.
Passenger monitoring shows a rise at Ranchi station—from 53,000 to 58,000 daily—while Tatanagar and Shalimar maintain last year’s numbers.
To meet demand, 20 extra rakes have been formed, with 11 deployed by SER and 9 sent by the Railway Board for special services from other regions.
For passenger safety, RPF and commercial staff are escorting all trains, preventing unauthorized entries and guiding travellers.
Mishra reiterated SER’s commitment to providing safe, efficient, and comfortable travel during the festival season.
