Bandra stampede: Western Railway takes measures to control crowd rush

In a move to deal with the ongoing festive rush, Western Railway has strengthened its crowd management measures following a stampede like incident at Bandra Terminus on Oct 27 which left 10 people injured.

The stampede at Bandra railway station occurred as passengers rushed to board the unreserved Bandra-Gorakhpur Antyodaya express.

"Western Railway has taken several precautionary measures and various elaborate arrangements have been made for proper implementation of crowd management at these stations," said a Western railway official.

"A passenger holding area admeasuring 370 sq meters with a holding capacity of around 600 passengers has been erected at Bandra Terminus station in the East circulating area for effective crowd management. This is equipped with adequate lighting and fans for comfortable wait for the passengers," the official added.

RPF and GRP personnel have also been deployed round the clock, to manage the crowd at the entry/exit points and at platforms.

Moreover, RPF/GRP staff have been stationed at the gates of every coach to guide passengers.

To further manage the crowd, a holding area has been set up at Surat and Udhna station premises for those passengers who can wait without any hassle if they come early.

"A public announcement system is available inside the holding area which will keep waiting passengers updated about train movements. This area will minimize the number of waiting passengers at the platform and allow for smooth entry of passengers to the trains ensuring safe and smooth journey for the passengers," the official said.

Apart from these measures, information banners and standees displaying special trains have been displayed at prominent places.

"The extra RPF and GRP personnel have been deployed for trains heading toward northern states of the country, especially in General and Sleeper coaches, to manage the crowd and facilitate them for a comfortable journey. This step aims to create a safe and convenient environment for all travellers," the officials said.

Round-the-clock CCTV monitoring of the crowd and teams of CPDS (Crime Prevention and Detection Squad) from the RPF have been deployed in plain clothes to prevent theft and monitor any suspicious activity.

These areas are equipped with basic amenities such as drinking water, sanitation facilities, etc. The access area to the station is regulated so that early entry to the platform can be restricted. Medical Teams have also been deployed at the stations in case of emergencies. Announcements at platforms are being made to manage the passengers in the queue.

Western Railway officials said they are taking all measures for proper dissemination of information to the public with Ticket Checking staff, RPF & GRP staff guiding passengers through the Public Announcement System.

They are also regularly tweeting and posting on social media to keep passengers informed about additional train services.

"For the convenience of passengers and to meet the travel demand, this year Western Railway is running 200 Special trains during the festive season of Diwali/Chhath Pooja," said Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway.