Title - Railways initiates special steps for Shrawani Mela

BHAGALPUR: The railways has also geared up its machinery for the month-long Shrawani Mela beginning on Tuesday. It has deputed the area manager of Bhagalpur region under Malda division of eastern railways as the Mela officer at Sultanganj station to oversee smooth running of trains and provide arrangements for the pilgrims during the Mela period.According to railway sources, area manager S K Murmu has been asked to camp at Sultanganj and facilitate the journey of devotees without hassle. Besides assigning an official for special duty, the eastern railways has ordered for the stoppage of all the trains passing through the Malda-Shahebganj-Bhagalpur-Kiul railway section at Sultanganj during the month-long Shrawani Mela. Railways had earlier constructed Mela shed for Kanwarias (devotees) and now it is constructing lavatories and washrooms for the devotees on the Sultanganj railway station premises.ADRM Rajnish Gupta of Malda railway division, who is supervising the Mela preparation by railways, said the railway machinery has geared up to provide facilities at Sultanganj railway station. Special arrangements for sanitation at railway station premises and toilets etc. have been made and services of adequate number of sanitary staff are being utilized, said the ADRM adding care is also being taken to provide safe drinking water to the pilgrims and electricity on the station premises. The ADRM also instructed the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in-charge at Sultanganj to provide round-the-clock security on the station premises and keep an eye on the anti-social elements.

Instructing the station manager to make necessary arrangements for providing information related to trains to the passengers, the ADRM said notice and instructions' boards is being fixed so that pilgrims can get information about trains or related matter. He also instructed the health division of railways to be on guard and provide medical services to the people, if required.

Station manager, Bhagalpur, D C Jha said the railways has geared up its machinery and would try to live up to the expectations of the people. Senior officials are overseeing the arrangements made by railways, he said adding majority of the trains passing through this section will halt at Sultanganj during the Shrawani Mela period.