In response to the chaotic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night and the anticipated influx of passengers for the Maha Kumbh, major railway stations across Uttar Pradesh such as Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Mirzapur, have ramped up security measures. Railway and local authorities are collaboratively ensuring crowd control to prevent any untoward incidents.
Stringent Security Protocols Enforced
According to a news agency report, Shashikant Tripathi, an official with North Central Railway, stated that security protocols initially implemented for large festivals like Mouni Amavasya and Basant Panchami are now being rigorously enforced. At Prayagraj Junction, customers can only enter from the city side and are held in a 'holding area' until the train arrives. RPF Inspector Shiv Kumar affirmed that this strategy is proving effective in managing crowd control.
Strict Arrangements in Varanasi
Ashok Kumar, an official with North Eastern Railway, revealed that passengers at Varanasi's Jhunsi and Rambagh stations are also stopped in secure zones until their train arrives. The incident in Delhi has prompted tighter security at Varanasi Junction as well.
Arpit Gupta, the Station Director, reported that vehicle entry has been restricted, barricades placed at key points, and security forces are continuously monitoring crowd movements. CCTV cameras provide 24-hour surveillance of activities, and platform change notifications are issued 90 minutes in advance to prevent stampede situations.
Special Security Arrangement in Ayodhya
Following the Delhi stampede event, Ayodhya Railway Station has also implemented stringent security measures. Separate entry and exit points have been set up for the convenience of passengers. Over 300 personnel from Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) are deployed, with 200 CCTV cameras monitoring activities.
Tightened Security in Lucknow and Kanpur
Joint Commissioner of Police (Joint CP) Amit Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Central Raveena Tyagi, and Railway Director Prashant Kumar inspected Charbagh Railway Station in Lucknow, issuing directives to improve arrangements. Joint CP Amit Verma stated, 'We are here to ensure passenger safety and comfort, and all necessary steps are being taken to prevent overcrowding.'
In Kanpur, District Officer Jitendra Pratap Singh conducted a security review at Kanpur Central Station, instructing officials to adhere strictly to security protocols and not to change platforms before train arrivals.
Precautionary Measures in Mirzapur
Even though Mirzapur Station experiences relatively less crowding compared to other major stations, additional security measures have been implemented to avoid overcrowding. Security forces have been increased at all major railway stations in UP, CCTV surveillance intensified, and special arrangements are in place for passenger convenience.
