New Delhi: The last-minute rush of passengers heading home for Holi does not seem to be descending into total chaos, as crowd-control measures appear to be in place at the city's railway stations.
Over 700 Holi special train trips have been operated by Northern Railways since Feb 21 and will continue until March 7 from various cities.
"In the past five days, about 14 lakh passengers have travelled from Delhi. Based on continuous monitoring of passenger rush at major stations, 22 additional special trains are scheduled to run on Tuesday," said Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, chief public relations officer, Northern Railways.
A spot visit by TOI to New Delhi Railway Station on Monday revealed a temporary holding area set up outside, allowing travellers to wait in an organised manner before boarding. Restricting entry to confirmed passengers, authorities had suspended platform ticket sales.
Around 12.10pm, the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express from New Delhi to Darbhanga Junction arrived at a platform. Among the passengers was Falinder Kumar, a resident of Pitampura, travelling to Muzaffarpur for Holi. "I reached the station at 8am and waited in the holding area. The arrangements this year are well managed, and we didn't face any hassle while boarding the coach," he said.
Railway staff and RPF personnel were stationed at every door to manage passengers on board. They advised travellers to avoid using mobile phones near open windows and to keep handbags secure, cautioning that slowing trains could increase the risk of theft.
Ajay Kumar Sharma, 24, who works at a Gurgaon firm, was travelling to Darbhanga. "I arrived early, anticipating snarls and delays, as well as longer boarding times due to the rush. Compared to last year, the crowd management and boarding arrangements were much smoother," he said.
A few minutes before the train's departure, RPF personnel used whistles to alert passengers on the platform to move back, warning them of potential safety risks. The packed train departed on schedule, at 12.45pm.
Steel mojo barriers were set up in a zigzag pattern on the platform, where a swarm of passengers queued for a Holi special train. About 30 minutes before a train's departure, RPF personnel briefed passengers on boarding procedures and advised them not to rush. Once the instructions were given, the main gate of the barriers was opened, allowing passengers to move in an orderly line towards the train. A medical booth was set up to handle emergencies.
To handle the rush, the station operated 25 automatic ticket vending machines and 20 unreserved ticket counters. A mini control room monitored live feed from 255 CCTV cameras while RPF personnel supervised crowd movement. A permanent holding area was also in use, where passengers waited for their trains.
An RPF official at the mini control room said, "If we notice any issue or detect anything suspicious, we immediately alert the staff concerned through walkie-talkie sets."
At Anand Vihar Terminal, similar arrangements were in place. A temporary holding area outside the station featured big screens displaying train timings, two inquiry counters and 15 ticket counters. A staff member said most queries were about train timings and platform tickets.
Two passengers, Nitish and Pankaj, residents of Haryana's Ballabhgarh, missed the Vikramshila Express due to snarls. "We were planning to go home to Bhagalpur in Bihar to celebrate Holi. We are looking for options now," Nitish said.
Inside the station, the Bihar Sapt Kranti Express was fully packed. Lakhan Soni and Rana Kumar, cousins heading to Muzaffarpur, said, "The train is very crowded. People with general tickets also entered the sleeper sections." Later, a team of RPF personnel removed passengers without proper tickets and those blocking the toilets.
At the station, a mini control room monitored 75 CCTV feeds, with 45 additional cameras installed to enhance surveillance. A medical booth was also set up along with an ambulance facility.
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