New Measures for Crowd Control at Railway Stations Following High-Level Meeting Led by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Significant Steps to Enhance Crowd Management at Stations
There was a high-level meeting presided over by the Railway Minister, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, today to sort out crowd control at stations. A few key decisions were taken, keeping in mind developing permanent infrastructure, enhancing access control, and leveraging high-end technology for better passenger safety and convenience. These new developments are directed at addressing crowding during rush hours and facilitating a smoother experience for passengers.

1. Permanent Outside Waiting Spaces at 60 Stations in the Country

In response to the success of temporary waiting spaces created during the 2024 festival period, the Indian Railways has chosen to create permanent waiting spaces outside stations at 60 stations that always have heavy human traffic.

• These zones proved particularly successful at festivals such as Diwali and the Mahakumbh at big stations such as Surat Udhna, Patna, and New Delhi, where big crowds were handled well by limiting access to the platforms until the train arrived.
• The new permanent waiting facilities will be introduced at stations such as New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna with pilot projects already in progress.

• The intention is to hold crowds in demarcated waiting areas until access to platforms is granted to passengers, which will minimize congestion within the station.

2. Full Access Control to Regulate Station Crowds

As a part of overall crowd control arrangements, a full access control system will be implemented at the 60 chosen stations.

• Passengers with booked reserved tickets will have direct entry to the platforms.
• Un-ticketed passengers or waiting list ticket passengers will be expected to stay in the waiting areas away from the stations.
• Unauthorized entry points will be shut down to avoid congestion and guarantee convenient and controlled access.

3. Installation of Wider Foot-Over-Bridges (FOBs) to Enhance Station Flow
Part of the new crowd management strategy involves the installation of wider foot-over-bridges (FOBs) in stations.

• Two new wide FOB designs—12 meters (40 feet) and 6 meters (20 feet)—have been created. The wider bridges proved to be extremely effective during the Mahakumbh and will now be used at stations nationwide.
• The new design also features ramps to make the FOBs more accessible to passengers, leading to smoother movement across the station.

4. Expanded Surveillance with Cameras for Crowd Monitoring
Following the success of camera deployment during the Mahakumbh, the Indian Railways will expand surveillance by placing a huge number of cameras at stations and their surrounding areas.

• These cameras will ensure round-the-clock monitoring and assist in crowd management better during peak hours or emergencies.

5. Establishment of War Rooms for Emergency Situations
To facilitate better crowd management during busy times, the Railways will install specific war rooms in prominent stations.

• Personnel from all concerned departments will man these war rooms in cases of high crowding to facilitate swift and cohesive action on any problem that crops up.

6. New Generation Communication Equipment Installation
The plan also includes the introduction of sophisticated communication equipment.

• Digital communication equipment, such as walkie-talkies, announcement systems, and calling systems, will be introduced at busy traffic stations to enhance coordination and response time.

7. New ID Cards for Staff and Service Personnel
In order to enhance station security and guarantee that only approved staff have access to restricted areas, all staff and service staff will receive new design ID cards.

• The ID cards will be utilized to easily identify approved staff, particularly during peak hours or emergency situations.

8. New Staff Uniform Design for Easy Identification
Apart from new ID cards, the railway station staff will be provided with a new, recognizable uniform design.

• The uniforms will enable passengers to easily recognize staff members in case of an emergency or need for assistance, enhancing overall crowd management and safety.

9. Upgradation of Station Director Role to Improve Decision-Making
For effective control at big stations, there will be a senior officer designated as the Station Director in every large station now.

• The Station Director will be the main focal point for all station operations and will have powers to make immediate decisions to counter crowd management issues.
• This upgrade is for providing the station director with financial independence and the authority to take important decisions without delay.

10. Sale of Tickets Depending on Station Capacity
To avoid overloading, the newly authorized Station Director will be in charge of ticket sales depending on the capacity of the station and the number of trains available.

• This measure will ensure that ticket sales are in line with station infrastructure and capacity, reducing the risk of overcrowded platforms and trains.