In a high-level meeting led by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Indian Railways has announced a series of crowd control measures to enhance passenger safety and streamline operations at 60 major railway stations across the country. The initiative comes after reviewing challenges faced during previous festive seasons and the Maha Kumbh, where massive crowds led to congestion at key stations.

Key Decisions Taken:

Permanent Waiting Areas at Stations – To ease congestion, designated waiting areas will be created outside 60 stations, allowing passengers to proceed to platforms only when their trains arrive. Pilot projects have already commenced at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna.

Strict Access Control – Only passengers with confirmed reserved tickets will be allowed entry to platforms, with all unauthorized access points sealed off.

Wider Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) – Two new standard designs of 12-metre (40 feet) and 6-metre (20 feet) wide FOBs with ramps will be installed at all major stations. These were highly effective in managing crowds during the Maha Kumbh.

Surveillance Boost with Cameras – A large number of CCTV cameras will be installed in and around stations to monitor crowd movements and enhance security.

War Rooms at Large Stations – Dedicated war rooms will be established at major stations where officers from all departments will coordinate in real-time to manage crowd situations efficiently.

Empowered Station Directors – Senior officials will be appointed as Station Directors at all major stations. They will have financial authority to make instant decisions and regulate ticket sales based on station capacity and train availability.