In a significant move to prevent overcrowding at major railway stations, Indian Railways has announced that only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter platforms at 60 high-footfall stations, including Bengaluru. The decision comes as part of enhanced crowd control measures, spearheaded by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, following recent incidents of congestion-related disruptions.
Strict Access Control to be Enforced
As per the directive, only passengers with confirmed reserved tickets will be permitted on platforms, while those with waiting list tickets or without reservations will be required to wait in designated areas outside the stations. To ensure compliance, unauthorized entry points at these stations will be permanently sealed.
To facilitate this transition, Railways will construct permanent waiting areas outside these stations, ensuring passengers can wait comfortably until they are allowed access. The move aims to enhance passenger safety and streamline station operations.
Pilot Projects Already Underway
The implementation of access control measures has already begun at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna stations as part of a pilot project. Under this system, passengers will be permitted to enter platforms only when their train arrives, helping contain sudden rushes and avoid overcrowding on platforms.
Move Comes After New Delhi Stampede
This decision follows a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, where 18 people lost their lives last month due to overcrowding. The Railways aims to prevent such incidents by ensuring better crowd management at key stations.
With this initiative, passenger movement will be better regulated, reducing congestion and improving safety across India’s busiest railway stations.
