Bengal: ER starts preparing for Durga Puja rush at Sealdah

Kolkata, Aug 27 (IANS) With less than two months to go until Durga Puja, the Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway (ER) convened a high-level preparedness and review meeting on Thursday to plan for the immense passenger rush.

Rajeev Saxena, Divisional Railway Manager, Sealdah, chaired the meeting via video conference, attended by concerned branch officers, station officials and frontline field supervisors. The objective was to connect directly with teams working at the ground level, gather their feedback, understand practical challenges, and ensure every department is fully prepared before the festive rush begins.

The team discussed crowd management in detail, including passenger movement, peak hours, and potential crowd-related challenges at Sealdah and other key stations. Sealdah witnessed a peak footfall of around 21 lakh passengers in a single day during the last Durga Puja period. Entry and exit plans are being reviewed to minimise cross-movement and ensure smooth passenger flow.

Authorities are undertaking a platform-wise assessment of passenger holding capacity, platform length, and train operations to prevent overcrowding. It was decided that all ticket counters at Sealdah and Kolkata stations will function round the clock, with additional booking clerks deployed during peak morning and evening hours to handle the increased rush. Round-the-clock Automatic Ticket Vending Machine (ATVM) facilities with facilitators will be made available. Staff equipped with Hand-Held Terminals (HHTs) will also be deployed among the crowds to issue tickets on the spot, significantly reducing queues at booking counters.

“Instructions were given for adequate signage and Train Information Boards (TIBs) to ensure easier passenger guidance and information. Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel will actively regulate queues and passenger movement, supported by timely public announcements and coordination by the commercial department,” an official said.

CCTV-based monitoring will be used extensively to assess crowd density and enable early intervention in developing crowd situations. Emergency routes, evacuation arrangements, medical assistance and disaster-response measures will also be reviewed in the coming days to ensure a quick response during any unforeseen situation.

The newly opened Central Gate at Sealdah is being utilised as a dedicated entry/exit point for mail/express passengers, helping reduce cross-movement within the station.

“Preparations are also being made at other stations that witness a rush of pandal hoppers during the Pujas. Booking counters at Dum Dum station towards platforms 4 and 5 are being dismantled to create a larger passenger area and facilitate smoother movement during the festive rush,” the official said.

At Barrackpore, additional ticketing and circulation facilities are being created. The newly constructed ticket booking counter at Barrackpore will be opened. The Foot Overbridge (FOB) at the Ranaghat end is nearing completion and will be commissioned at the earliest to reduce pressure on the central FOB.

Arrangements are also being made for modern toilet complexes at Sealdah, Ballygunge and Dum Dum stations to enhance passenger amenities and ensure improved hygiene and convenience during the Puja rush. Immediate corrective and infrastructural improvement works at the Bidhannagar subway are being undertaken to ensure safer and smoother passenger movement.

The improvement and strengthening of approach roads at Level Crossing (LC) gates are also being undertaken to facilitate smoother movement of passengers, road users, and railway-related traffic. Employees and supervisors from all departments are being briefed and trained on disaster management, emergency response and their respective responsibilities during the festive rush.

All preparations have been taken well in advance, and ongoing infrastructure works must remain passenger-centric, with efforts to complete essential works well ahead of the Puja rush, Saxena emphasised.

“Through coordinated planning, infrastructure improvements, enhanced ticketing facilities, modern passenger amenities, crowd-control measures and strengthened emergency preparedness, the Sealdah Division is committed to ensuring a safe, well-managed and passenger-friendly Puja experience for lakhs of commuters and pandal hoppers,” he said.

–IANS

jb/dan