Ranchi railway station has introduced queue-based boarding, a 250-passenger holding area and enhanced security ahead of the expected Chhath Puja rush, with railway authorities aiming to prevent overcrowding and ensure orderly passenger movement.
The holding area has been created on the station premises to regulate the inflow of passengers during the festive period. Barricades have been installed across the station and platforms to support queue management and control movement around trains, ticket counters and other busy areas.
The Railway Protection Force has deployed additional personnel at platforms, entry and exit points and ticket counters. Security staff have also been assigned to monitor passenger movement and prevent overcrowding during peak travel periods.
Sishupal Kumar, RPF inspector in charge at Ranchi station, said additional personnel had been deployed for round-the-clock monitoring during the festive season. “Queue management techniques have been implemented on the platforms to ensure one-by-one boarding of trains. This will help prevent unnecessary crowding near coaches and avert stampede-like situations,” he said.
Kumar said the station was being monitored through CCTV cameras throughout the day. In addition to the main entry and exit points, separate emergency exits have been designated for use during an emergency, he said.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, South Eastern Railway said it had made arrangements at major stations across its zone in view of the expected increase in passenger traffic during Chhath Puja. The measures include special trains and crowd-management systems at stations handling increased passenger volumes.
According to SER, holding areas have been developed at Shalimar, Ranchi, Tatanagar and Rourkela stations to regulate passenger movement and manage rush-hour and peak-season crowds. The arrangements are intended to separate waiting passengers from active boarding areas and reduce pressure on platforms.
Additional railway personnel, including RPF staff, have been deployed at important stations to facilitate orderly boarding and deboarding. Ticket-checking squads and RPF personnel have also been instructed to manage crowd movement on foot overbridges, where passenger flows can intensify during train arrivals and departures.
The measures place the station’s entry points, platforms, ticket counters and foot overbridges under coordinated monitoring during the festive travel period. Railway authorities have indicated that the holding area, barricades, CCTV surveillance, emergency exits and queue-based boarding will remain part of the station’s crowd-management arrangements as passenger traffic rises.
