East Central Railway has intensified railway security at around 300 locations across its jurisdiction as Durga Puja begins, deploying surveillance equipment, crowd-control personnel and quick response teams to protect passengers during the expected festive rush.
The enhanced arrangements focus on passenger safety, crowd management and the prevention of untoward incidents at railway stations, according to ECR principal chief security commissioner-cum-IG RPF Amaresh Kumar. The Railway Protection Force has deployed drone cameras, handheld metal detectors, door-frame metal detectors, baggage scanners, solar-powered standalone cameras and body-worn cameras as part of the security plan.
Kumar said the equipment would help security personnel monitor passenger movement and identify suspicious activity within railway premises. The measures are being implemented across sensitive and crowded locations in the ECR jurisdiction, with particular attention to areas where large passenger flows can create congestion.
RPF personnel have been positioned at foot overbridges, circulating areas, ticket booking counters and waiting halls to regulate movement and prevent overcrowding. These locations are key points of interaction between passengers and station infrastructure, particularly during peak travel periods when queues and platform congestion can affect entry and exit routes.
CCTV cameras and RPF intelligence personnel are being used for round-the-clock surveillance at sensitive locations, Kumar said. Quick response teams have also been kept ready to deal with emergencies, while special security squads have been formed to strengthen vigilance during the festive period.
Patna Junction, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Barauni are among the major stations being monitored 24 hours a day. RPF personnel are also tracking crowd movement to ensure the smooth entry and exit of passengers at these stations.
The railway security plan places particular emphasis on crowded platforms and other vulnerable areas. Personnel have been directed to remain alert throughout the festive period, with railway authorities instructing that there should be no laxity in security arrangements.
The deployment comes as railway stations across the region prepare for increased passenger movement linked to Durga Puja travel. The stated operational focus is on maintaining surveillance, managing passenger flows and responding quickly to emergencies through personnel and equipment positioned at stations and other railway premises.
According to Kumar, all necessary steps are being taken to ensure passenger safety during Durga Puja. The enhanced arrangements will remain in force through the festive period, with security teams continuing surveillance and crowd-management operations at identified locations.
