Patna: The Ministry of Railways has launched a nationwide study aimed at improving crowd management at railway stations that experience heavy passenger traffic during festivals, holidays, examinations and other peak travel periods.
The exercise has been entrusted to Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), which will conduct a detailed assessment of passenger movement, crowd behaviour and infrastructure constraints at 72 major railway stations across the country.
Several of Bihar’s busiest railway stations have been included in the first phase of the initiative.
Bihar Stations Among Key Locations
Under the East Central Railway zone, the study will cover Patna Junction, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Darbhanga and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction.
In addition, Chhapra Junction under the North Eastern Railway and Bhagalpur station under the Eastern Railway have also been selected.
The inclusion of these stations reflects the significant passenger volumes they handle throughout the year, particularly during major festivals and recruitment examinations.
Scientific Study Of Passenger Movement
According to railway officials, the RITES team will undertake a comprehensive analysis of crowd intensity, passenger flow patterns and the causes of congestion at each station.
The study will identify peak travel periods, examine which platforms and trains face the greatest pressure and assess the movement of passengers through station premises.
Researchers will also evaluate the adequacy of station infrastructure, including:
- Entry and exit points
- Foot-over bridges
- Waiting halls
- Ticket counters
- Platform capacity
- Passenger circulation areas
Drones To Be Used For Analysis
As part of the exercise, RITES will use drone-based photography and videography to capture real-time crowd movement patterns.
Officials said the aerial footage will allow a more scientific assessment of passenger behaviour and congestion points within station premises.
The team will also gather feedback from station authorities, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and district administrations to identify operational challenges faced during periods of heavy rush.
Passengers will also be consulted to understand their experiences, difficulties and suggestions.
New Crowd Management Strategy Planned
Railway officials said the findings will be used to develop a revised crowd management framework for major stations across the country.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns about managing large passenger volumes during festivals, holidays and competitive examinations, particularly in states such as Bihar where seasonal travel demand can increase sharply.
Patna Junction Handles Highest Passenger Load
Among Bihar’s stations, Patna Junction remains the busiest.
According to railway officials, approximately 225,000 passengers pass through the station every day.
Danapur station records a daily footfall of between 75,000 and 80,000 passengers, with numbers rising significantly during events such as Chhath, Holi, Dussehra and major recruitment examinations.
Railway authorities currently deploy special trains, additional personnel and real-time monitoring systems to manage heavy crowds.
Officials said divisional and zonal “war rooms” are activated during peak travel periods to monitor passenger movement and coordinate crowd-control measures.
The forthcoming study is expected to provide data-driven recommendations that could shape future investments in station infrastructure and improve passenger safety and convenience at some of the country’s busiest rail hubs.
