RailEnquiry

VARANASI: Taking lesson from the stampede which claimed several lives at Allahabad railway station after Mauni Amawasya snan, the government machinery has finalised a plan for crowd management at the railway stations of Varanasi for Mahashivratri.

The plan was chalked out a joint meeting of the officials of district administration, police, railway authorities and officials of different departments convened by divisional commissioner CK Tiwari on Wednesday evening. Divisional railway managers of Northern Railway and North Eastern Railway, DIG range A Satish Ganesh and DIG railways BD Paulson also attended the meeting.

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To make it possible, he said, the railway authorities have decided to operate special trains from Manduadih and City railway station.

The information about the availability of special trains from different stations will be given to pilgrims at Godowlia, Maidagin and Dashaswamedh in the city, when they would be standing in queues or leaving the area after offering prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple. It will help in diverting the pilgrims towards those railway stations.

Paulson said that the parking sites and taxi stands will not be available as this space would be used for the pilgrims. Barricades would be installed in these areas.

Paulson said nobody will be allowed to stay in lobbies and foot overbridges of the railway station while the railway authorities have also assured not to change the platform of any train at any cost. He said that additional forces, including PAC and women constables would be available at railway stations to assist RPF and GRP in crowd management.

Paulson added that there is no specific input but the anti-sabotage and bomb disposal squads would also continue exercises at the railway station. Medical facilities are also being made available at the railway platforms. All these arrangements would remain effective from March 9 to 11.