Indian Railways is strengthening crowd management and safety measures to handle the surge in passenger traffic during the final week of the Maha Kumbh Mela.
To prevent overcrowding and ensure passenger safety, in the wake of the recent stampede incident at New Delhi Railway Station, special holding areas have been established at key stations across Northern Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and East Central Railway. These holding areas are located outside the platforms, allowing passengers to enter based on their train departure times. This system aims to streamline passenger flow and minimize congestion, especially during peak travel periods.
In Northern Railway, large holding areas have been set up at Ghaziabad, Anand Vihar, New Delhi, Ayodhya Dham, and Banaras. North Eastern Railway has developed holding areas at Banaras, Siwan, Ballia, Deoria, Chhapra, and Gorakhpur.
East Central Railway has created two holding areas each at Rajendra Nagar Terminal and Patna Junction. Additional holding areas are available at Danapur, Ara, Buxar, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Barauni, Samastipur, Jaynagar, Madhubani, Raxaul, Sakri, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Sasaram, and Gaya, with sizes ranging from 2,000 to 3,375 sq ft.
North Central Railway has also developed spacious holding areas at Prayagraj Junction, Naini, and Prayagraj Chheoki. Within the Kumbh area, Northern Railway and North Eastern Railway have created permanent and temporary holding areas at Prayag Junction, Phaphamau Junction, Jhusi, and Prayagraj Rambagh.
Additionally, platforms have been equipped with ropes and increased deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel to prevent passengers from approaching trains before they come to a complete stop. These measures aim to provide passengers with a safer and more convenient boarding experience, similar to those implemented during major festivals like Chhath and Diwali.
Indian Railways has urged passengers to cooperate with railway staff and follow official guidelines for smooth travel operations. For real-time updates, passengers are advised to stay informed through official channels.
