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Apart from the special trains, the Northern Railways also operated unreserved trains as per demand
Passengers wait for a a train ahead of Diwali festival, at Patna railway station, on October 29. (PTI)
With the operation of at least 7,724 special trains nationwide, Indian Railways served more than 20 crore passengers, while dealing with the unprecedented festive rush of Diwali and Chhath Puja, an official statement said on Monday.
This included six crore passengers served on the Northern Railways with the operation of 3,500 during this period.
Last week, the railways had said that on November 4 it facilitated over three crore passengers, which is more than the combined population of Australia and New Zealand.
Diwali and Chhath puja rush was witnessed from the starting of October till the last week when the celebrations concluded.
In a statement, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, chief public relations officer, Northern Railways, said they are proud to have successfully handled the massive festive rush, setting a new benchmark in passenger transportation.
“Our commitment to passenger safety and satisfaction remains unwavering. We will continue to strive for excellence in providing efficient and hasslefree railway services,” he said.
BETTER CROWD MANAGEMENT
During the festive season, elaborate arrangements were put in place by Northern Railways. In the mini control established at railway stations, continuous monitoring of the crowd yielded results. Apart from announced special trains, unreserved trains were also operated as per demand.
It ensured that passengers were not stranded at railway stations for long.
Designated holding areas were created at important stations to prevent crowding at platforms. In these holding areas, various arrangements such as installation of big screens for train position/information and infotainment, additional special ticket counters, ATVMs, Railway Protection Force (RPF) helpdesks, deployment of additional RPF battalion including female staff at platforms and in trains to regulate the crowd, manilla ropes were used to regulate the crowd at platforms.
RPF personnel used handheld loudspeakers to regulate the entry of passengers in general coaches. Strict measures were implemented to prevent unauthorised entry into reserved coaches, curb the carrying of inflammable materials, and address issues like smoking and littering in trains and station premises. Increased deployment of ticket checking staff and RPF personnel was done to manage crowd at FOBs, entry/exit points, platforms, booking offices, and other areas.
Adequate counters for food/snacks/meals were operational at platforms. Janta Khana was also made available at platforms.
Timely announcements regarding the running of special trains and extra coaches were made at stations. To ensure the smooth functioning of operations, Northern Railways directed station authorities to avoid last-minute platform changes. Dedicated platforms for festival special trains are being allotted, the statement added.
Northern Railways prioritised passenger safety and convenience by implementing stringent crowd management measures at stations and on trains. The railways’ dedicated staff worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience for all passengers, it said.