With thousands of passengers expected to travel during the Diwali and Chhath festival season, Ahmedabad’s railway stations have stepped up security arrangements, deploying 240 CCTV cameras and 110 additional Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel to monitor passenger movement and prevent untoward incidents.
Of the total CCTV cameras, 119 have been installed at Ahmedabad railway station and 121 at Sabarmati. The railway has also proposed installing another 60 cameras to strengthen surveillance. CCTV control rooms will remain under round-the-clock monitoring, while security personnel in plain clothes will keep watch for passenger-related crimes.
The additional RPF deployment includes 55 personnel at Ahmedabad, 40 at Sabarmati and 15 at Asarwa railway stations. An additional company of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) has also been deployed at Ahmedabad station.
Queue-based boarding arrangements introduced
Apart from strengthening security, the railway has introduced a queue-based boarding system to prevent overcrowding on platforms and near train entrances.
At Sabarmati station, passengers will be guided from ticket counters to designated holding areas and subsequently escorted to platforms in organised queues according to scheduled boarding times.
Over 70 special train trips to manage festive rush
To accommodate the increased passenger demand, more than 70 special train trips are being operated, particularly towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Additional coaches have also been attached to several regular trains.
The railway authorities are also factoring in the movement of around 20-25 trains passing through Ahmedabad and Sabarmati from Rajkot and Bhuj to manage passenger traffic during the festive period.