Title - Railway Board chairman stresses on more ticket counters and toilets during Kumbh

ALLAHABAD: Railway Board chairman Vinay Mittal on Wednesday reviewed the preparations being made by the Railways for the upcoming Mahakumbh. Mittal inspected Allahabad railway junction and Naini junction. He was accompanied by member engineering AP Mishra and member traffic KK Srivastava. He also held a top level meeting with the railway officials at the North Central Railway headquarters to take stock of Mahakumbh preparations.Mittal said all possible arrangements must be made keeping in view the large turnout of pilgrims during Mahakumbh. He also emphasised on the need to increase the number of ticket counters and toilets during the Mela period. Further, for making additional arrangements for extra rush, special care should be taken for the safety and security of passengers, he added.North Central Railway general manager Alok Johri discussed the performance of the zone through power-point presentation. He also described about the progress of various ongoing railway projects and the future projections. During the presentation Vinay Mittal, Chairman, Railway Board said that special impetus should be given on completion of all priority projects. He also expressed the need to speed up the works of limited height subways so that to ensure the speedy removal of level crossings.In the morning, Chairman of Railway Board Vinay Mittal inspected Allahabad railway junction from 9:00 am onwards. The inspection started from platform number 1 of the railway junction. He went inside the waiting hall located at the junction. He suggested for installation of more exhaust fans in the waiting hall to make it more airy for the benefit of the passengers. He also inspected the linens that are being used in the AC coaches of the trains.

Later, he went to the city side of the Allahabad railway junction. The general manager of NCR Alok Johri and divisional railway manager of Allahabad division Harendra Rao apprised him about the various details pertaining to the Mahakumbh. He was told about the Tower Control which is located on the topmost part of the junction. The movement of the trains would be controlled from this tower during the junction.

General manager of NCR Alok Johri described about the enclosures for passengers and other preparations through diagrams to board members. He inspected the site where the enclosures would be made and facilities for booking of tickets and catering would be made.

He also inspected the foot over bridge of Allahabad junction and gave instructions that all the overhanging cables should be properly covered and not visible during the Mahakumbh. He also inspected the place where the elevator would be built on the bridge. Chairman, Railway Board also checked the facilities at station including crew lobby, concourse and Jan Aahar etc.

While speaking to media persons Mittal expressed satisfaction about the cleanliness arrangements at Allahabad station and said that special care will be taken with respect to hygiene during Kumbh Mela. He also told that there will be 6 separate enclosures having the facilities of ticket windows, drinking water and toilets for passengers of various directions. He also informed that the state of art lighting facilities will be provided during Kumbh Mela period.

While speaking about the new tatkal arrangements he said that very encouraging feedbacks are coming out of it and number of tickets of tatkal booking through internet has also increased. He also told that a master plan of second entry from Civil lines is also being drafted and it will be given shape soon. After the inspection of Allahabad junction, Chairman, Railway Board also inspected the Naini, Prayag and Rambagh stations.

During the meeting at North Central Railway Headquarters, Divisional Railway Manager, Allahabad Division, North Central Railway, Divisional Railway Manager, Lucknow Division, Northern Railway and Divisional Railway Manager, Varanasi Division, North Eastern Railway gave a detailed presentation about the proposed preparations for ensuing Mahakumbh Mela.

V.K.Gupta, General Manager, Northern Railway, V. Ramachandran, General Manager, North Eastern Railway, all the Principal/Chief Heads of departments of North Central Railway, Divesh Chaturvedi, Commissioner, Allahabad zone and Alok Sharma, IG Zone, Allahabad were also present on the occasion.