Indian Railways Implements New Crowd Management Plan at 60 Major Stations

The Railway Ministry has introduced a comprehensive plan. This plan responds to rising passenger congestion. The aim is to prevent overcrowding and enhance safety at 60 major railway stations across India. The initiative includes the construction of new foot overbridge (FOBs), designated waiting areas, and revised platform entry rules. 

New Measures to Control Crowds

Railway authorities have taken proactive steps. They followed lessons learned from past incidents, including the New Delhi Railway Station stampede. This is also in preparation for upcoming festivals. Dedicated waiting areas will be established, where passengers must wait before being allowed onto the platform. Entry to platforms will be permitted only when a train is about to arrive. Platform access will be restricted to passengers with confirmed reserved tickets to reduce unnecessary congestion. Unauthorized access points at railway stations will be sealed.

Foot Overbridge and Infrastructure Upgrades

To improve passenger movement, new foot overbridge (FOBs) will be constructed at key stations. They will have widths of 12 meters (40 feet) and 6 meters (20 feet). These bridges, which played a crucial role in managing crowds during Maha Kumbh, will also feature ramps for enhanced accessibility. 

Surveillance and Station Security Enhancements

Increased CCTV coverage will be deployed across major railway stations and their surroundings for better monitoring and crowd control. War rooms will be set up at key stations. This setup will allow officials from multiple departments to coordinate. They can plan real-time crowd management strategies. 

New Role of Station Directors

To ensure smooth operations, a Station Director will be appointed at each major railway station. This senior official will be empowered to take on-the-spot financial decisions for crowd control measures. They will also regulate ticket sales based on station capacity and train availability. 

These measures aim to improve passenger safety, streamline operations, and enhance the overall travel experience at India’s busiest railway hubs.