Title - Zonal railway prepares up for 2013 Maha Kumbh

ALLAHABAD: The railway administration is geared up to provide a wide range of facilities to the pilgrims expected to arrive in the city during Maha Kumbh, said general manager of North Central Railway (NCR) Alok Johri while talking to mediapersons on Friday.For instance, he said the facility of booking railway tickets will be provided directly in the Sangam area. Here, pilgrims can book tickets through UTS and PRS counters. They would also be provided information regarding train timing. In addition, various facilities have been provided at Allahabad railway junction, Naini junction and Vindhyachal station that come under the NCR zone.
Colour-coded enclosures : Six enclosures have set up at Allahabad railway junction and three at Naini for accommodating passengers during Maha Kumbh. The enclosures are being painted in different colours at the junction based on the direction of trains for easy identification by the passengers. Enclosure number 1 is being set up near Line Shah Baba on the city side of the junction. It is being painted red and has been set up for passengers going towards Satna. Enclosure number 2 is being painted in green colour and will accommodate passengers going towards Jhansi via Manikpur, Banda. Passengers headed towards Satna and Jhansi direction will board trains from platform number 1 of Allahabad railway junction. Passengers going in the direction of Mughalsarai would be accommodated in enclosure number 3 which is yellow in colour. Passengers going towards Kanpur will be in enclosure number 4 which has been painted blue in colour.

Each enclosure has the facility of ticket booking counters, drinking water facility, toilet and wash basin. Food arrangements have also been provided in the enclosures. Passenger information boards have been set up at the enclosures so that passengers can be provided the latest position of the trains.

All the enclosures will be monitored through the control room which has been set up in Allahabad junction building.

Mela special trains: General manager of NCR Alok Johri further said that various mela special trains will serve the pilgrims. For this, about 800 railway coaches have been especially allocated. About 750 mela special trains would run during Kumbh Mela, he said and the time-table of these trains has been issued.

Most of the regular trains have been given additional stoppages at the stations of Allahabad, Naini, Chheoki, Vindhyachal, Etawa and other stations during the Mela period, he informed. Further, additional coaches are also being provided in various trains. Arrangements for electric and diesel engines for the mela specials is also being made, he said.

Facilities at Allahabad junction: At Allahabad junction, 63 booking counters, 7 enquiry centers, 57 lavatories, 96 toilets, 116 water taps, 6 primary health centres, 1 lost and found centre, and cloak room have been set up in view of the mega congregation. Circulating area has also been improved.

Facilities at Naini junction: At Naini junction, a new foot overbridge has been set up. About 38 booking counters, 6 enquiry offices, 32 lavatories, 57 toilets, 54 water taps, 3 primary health centres, and a lost and found centre have also come up. Besides this, the length of existing platforms has been increased.

Vindhyachal station, about 4 booking counters, 1 enquiry counter, 4 lavatories, 4 toilets, 10 water taps, 1 cloak room and one scouts and guides hut has been set up to facilitate the passengers.

Sangam area done up: At Sangam area, 10 booking counters, 2 PRS counters, 2 enquiry counters, 12 drinking taps, and toilets have been set up. In addition to this, one primary health centre and 1 scouts and guides hut is also being installed.

Security beefed up: Security system has been enhanced at the Allahabad railway junction and other stations. Extra RPF personnel have been called up at Allahabad. About 60 additional CCTVs have been installed at Allahabad junction, Naini junction, Sangam area and Vindhyachal railway junction. About 15 dog squads have also been called in. RPF personnel are also being trained to prevent stampede and to interact with pilgrims. There would also be a three-tier power supply at Allahabad railway junction to provide uninterrupted power supply.