Patna: With the assembly elections coinciding with the Chhath festival, railway authorities in Bihar are bracing for unprecedented passenger crowds this year. The Railway Police have been alerted and instructed to implement a crowd management strategy modelled on the Mahakumbh 2025, while a multi-agency control room has been established to oversee operations.
ADG Railway Bachchu Singh Meena recently issued comprehensive guidelines to all Railway IGs and DIGs via video conference, highlighting that passenger traffic is expected to be higher than last year. “Several special trains have been arranged, and all Railway Police units are required to prepare crowd control plans in line with Mahakumbh procedures,” the guidelines stated.
Special arrangements include the deployment of scouts on night trains, rapid verification of incidents reported through the media within ten minutes, and the formation of rotational teams at major border stations to combat drug trafficking on trains arriving from Bihar. Checkpoints staffed by magistrates, excise officers, railway police, and local officials have also been set up to intercept illegal liquor, cash, and weapons.
Authorities have emphasised the avoidance of last-minute platform changes to prevent stampedes, with holding areas being established at major stations in coordination with railway management. Train arrival times, delays, and platform information will be displayed prominently on large boards to aid commuters.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been tasked with coordinating with railway authorities to manage returning crowds after the festival. Trains passing near the ghats during the Arghya offerings will operate at reduced speeds, and drivers will sound their horns to alert devotees gathered near the tracks. Security measures are being strengthened at sensitive locations to ensure the safety of festival-goers, particularly during the evening and early-night hours when large numbers of families arrive at the ghats.
