Western Railway’s Mumbai Central Division implemented additional crowd-management and passenger-facilitation measures at key stations during Ganpati Visarjan on September 25 and 26, as a sharp increase in passenger movement was recorded, particularly at Charni Road station.
Charni Road witnessed the highest concentration of passengers during the period, with around 4–5 lakh passengers using the station amid the heightened movement associated with the festival. The railway administration had made additional arrangements in advance to handle the rush, including increasing ticketing capacity, deploying more staff and strengthening security and crowd-control measures.
Charni Road sees heavy passenger movement
With a large number of passengers expected to use Charni Road, Western Railway increased the availability of ticketing facilities at the station to reduce queues and speed up the movement of passengers.
Two additional ticket windows were opened, while three additional automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) were deployed. Four mobile ticketing units were also operated to provide passengers with quicker access to tickets.
The booking office at Charni Road was supported by eight additional booking staff, while three additional ATVM facilitators were deployed to assist passengers using the machines and help reduce queues at regular ticket counters.
Two ATVMs located on Platform No. 1 on the north side were also operated at the Bal Bhavan entry gate. This allowed passengers to purchase tickets before entering the station premises.
Extra booking counters operated at key locations
Western Railway also operated additional booking counters at different points around Charni Road station to spread out passenger demand.
At the North foot overbridge, two additional counters were operated during the evening and night shifts on September 25, followed by the morning shift on September 26.
One additional counter was operated at the East Porta Cabin during the evening shift on September 25 and the morning shift on September 26. Another counter was operated on the west side during the night shift on September 25.
The additional counters were intended to provide passengers with more options for purchasing tickets and help prevent the concentration of queues at the regular booking facilities.
Security deployment increased
Crowd regulation and ticket checking were also strengthened at Charni Road. Around 40 ticket-checking staff were deployed at the station during the period of heavy passenger movement.
Security arrangements included the deployment of 300 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and 200 Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel. The additional personnel were tasked with regulating crowds, maintaining security and helping manage passenger movement in and around the station.
The deployment was particularly important during periods of peak passenger movement, when large numbers of people were arriving at and departing from the station.
Helpdesk and medical facilities provided
Passenger assistance facilities were also expanded during the festival period. A medical desk and a helpdesk were established at Charni Road to provide assistance to passengers during the rush.
Railway staff and security personnel were also deployed to assist with passenger movement and direct commuters towards the appropriate platforms and exits.
Announcements used to guide passengers
Public announcements and portable speakers were used regularly to communicate information to passengers and guide them through the station. The announcements focused on directing passengers towards platforms and exits and helping maintain orderly movement.
Information about additional local train services was also shared through social media platforms so that passengers could remain updated about the extra services being operated during the period.
Grant Road and Marine Lines also monitored
Although Charni Road recorded the largest passenger concentration, Western Railway also kept Grant Road and Marine Lines stations under close focus as part of the wider crowd-management arrangements for Ganpati Visarjan.
The measures at the three stations were aimed at managing the increase in passenger movement and reducing congestion during peak periods.
The arrangements included additional ticketing facilities, extra booking staff, ticket-checking personnel, security deployment, passenger assistance and regular announcements. The measures were put in place as large numbers of commuters travelled through stations in south Mumbai during the festival period.
Western Railway said the arrangements were implemented to manage the increased passenger movement while maintaining security and facilitating the movement of commuters through the stations.
* This article was originally published here
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