Ahmedabad railway stations have introduced dedicated holding areas outside platforms to manage the heavy passenger rush during the Diwali and Chhath Puja travel season, with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) allowing travellers onto platforms only after their trains arrive. The arrangement is aimed at reducing crowding, pushing and the risk of accidents at stations across Gujarat.
Thousands of passengers travelling to their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are arriving daily at Ahmedabad and other railway stations in the state, according to Gujarat Samachar. The railways are also operating special trains to handle the seasonal demand.
Under the new arrangement, passengers waiting for trains are being kept in designated areas outside the platforms instead of being allowed to gather directly on the platform. They are moved towards the platform in stages after the relevant train arrives, a system intended to prevent large groups from assembling in confined station spaces.
The RPF has also installed a sound system in the holding areas and is playing songs while passengers wait. The music includes devotional songs associated with Chhath Puja and Diwali, linking the waiting environment to the festivals for which many passengers are travelling home.
The intervention combines crowd control with passenger engagement. Travellers may have to wait for extended periods before their trains arrive, and the holding areas provide a controlled space where they can sit under the supervision of security personnel. The RPF is also issuing safety instructions and travel-related precautions to passengers during the waiting period.
Security arrangements have been strengthened at the stations, with RPF personnel conducting regular patrolling to prevent disorder and pushing. The staged movement of passengers is being used to reduce the possibility of a sudden rush towards the platform when a train is expected.
The festive travel period places additional pressure on railway stations because passenger numbers rise sharply around Diwali and Chhath Puja. The flow of travellers heading towards eastern and northern India can create congestion at entry points, platforms and train boarding areas, particularly when several passengers wait for the same service.
An RPF official said passenger safety and convenience were the force’s priorities. “Arrangements have been made to maintain a festive atmosphere in the holding area and enable passengers to travel safely,” the official said, according to the report.
The system currently depends on keeping passengers in the holding areas until the concerned train reaches the platform, followed by controlled movement towards the train. Railway and RPF teams are continuing patrols and announcements as part of the crowd-management arrangements during the festive rush.
