Railways to set up holding areas at 60 stations, issue crowd control manual

RAILWAY MINISTER LISTS STEPS TO PREVENT INCIDENTS

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: In response to the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday evening, which claimed 18 lives and left several injured, the Indian Railways has announced a series of urgent measures to enhance crowd management at high-footfall stations. The initiatives, which include the establishment of holding areas at 60 key stations, the introduction of a dedicated crowd management manual, and a passenger awareness campaign, were detailed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a press briefing at Rail Bhawan on Monday.

Railways to Establish Holding Areas at 60 Key Stations Expressing his grief over the incident, Vaishnaw termed it an unfortunate tragedy and emphasised the need for immediate reforms. "We have identified 60 railway stations, including New Delhi, Patna, Surat, Bengaluru, and Coimbatore, where holding areas—either temporary or permanent—will be set up outside the platforms. This will help regulate passenger movement and ensure that entry to platforms is synchronised with train departures, preventing overcrowding," he said.

He pointed to Prayagraj as a successful example, where temporary holding areas have been implemented during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, effectively managing the surge of pilgrims. "We aim to replicate this model across key stations to enhance safety and streamline passenger movement," Vaishnaw stated.

Dedicated Crowd Management Manual and Passenger Awareness Drive