Bhagalpur: Only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed on to platforms at Bhagalpur station as railway authorities brace for a surge in post-Holi travel, with up to 15,000 additional passengers expected in the coming days.
Railway officials in Bhagalpur have stepped up preparations to manage an anticipated spike in passenger numbers following the end of Holi celebrations, as thousands are expected to return to workplaces in major cities across the country.
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Malda Division, Manish Kumar Gupta, is scheduled to visit Bhagalpur station on Thursday morning to review the arrangements. He will be accompanied by a team of officials and is expected to inspect station premises, circulating areas and platforms, with particular focus on crowd control measures and passenger safety.
Temporary Holding Area and Staggered Platform Access
Railway authorities are creating a temporary holding area in the station’s circulating zone, designed to accommodate around 250 to 300 passengers at a time. Seating, drinking water, lighting and other basic amenities are being arranged.
Under the plan, passengers will be permitted to access platforms according to their train’s arrival time, in an effort to prevent overcrowding and reduce the risk of stampedes. A proposal to construct a permanent waiting hall ahead of Holi was delayed due to pending site selection and survey reports, prompting officials to implement temporary measures instead.
In the event of excessive congestion, only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the platforms, subject to ticket verification. Railway sources said platform ticket sales may be temporarily suspended if required. Similar measures have been used during previous festival rush periods.
Passenger Numbers Expected to Triple
Officials estimate that between 10,000 and 15,000 additional passengers could pass through the station in the days after Holi. Demand for general coach tickets on key long-distance trains originating from Bhagalpur — including the Vikramshila Express, LTT Express, Ang Express and Vananchal Express — is expected to rise three to four times compared with normal days.
After major festivals, trains bound for metropolitan centres such as Mumbai and Delhi typically see sudden surges in unreserved passengers, often resulting in jostling for seats and chaotic scenes in general compartments. Officials said advance planning aims to prevent a repeat of such disorder.
Push for Online Bookings and Tighter Security
To ease pressure at ticket counters, the railway administration will encourage passengers to use digital platforms such as RailOne and other online booking systems. Authorities said monitoring both online and offline ticket sales would help anticipate crowd levels and inform operational decisions.
Security arrangements are also being reinforced. Additional CCTV cameras will be installed across the station and surrounding areas, while a dedicated “war room” will coordinate responses between departments. Senior station officials will be granted financial powers to address emergencies swiftly.
Unauthorized entry points into the station are to be sealed to deter ticketless travel. Two ambulances will be stationed on site, with medical resources kept on standby to handle any health emergencies.
Railway officials said the enhanced measures would remain in place for several days, with further instructions possible following the DRM’s inspection. Ensuring safe and orderly travel in the post-festival rush, they added, remains the administration’s priority.
