महाशिवरात्रि पर रेलवे की विशेष तैयारी
प्रयागराज से 350 से अधिक ट्रेनों को चलाने की योजना
स्टेशनों पर विशेष सतर्कता बरतने का निर्देश- अश्विनी वैष्णव, रेल मंत्री
महाकुंभ 2025 का अंतिम अमृत स्नान 26 फरवरी को होना है। गंगा यमुना और सरस्वती के मिलन स्थल संगम पर स्नान करने के लिए उत्तर प्रदेश,बिहार, मध्य प्रदेश, झारखंड और बंगाल सहित देश के विभिन्न राज्यों से बड़ी संख्या में श्रद्धालु प्रयागराज आए हुए हैं । रविवार और सोमवार को भी बिहार के पटना, दानापुर, मुजफ्फरपुर, गया, सासाराम, कटिहार, खगड़िया, सहरसा, जयनगर, दरभंगा आदि स्टेशनों पर यात्रियों की संख्या अधिक रही । उत्तर प्रदेश के गोरखपुर लखनऊ अयोध्या वाराणसी कानपुर गोंडा दीनदयाल उपाध्याय झांसी आदि जिलों के रेलवे स्टेशनों पर प्रयागराज जाने वाले यात्रियों की संख्या औसत से काफी ज्यादा रही । मध्य प्रदेश के चित्रकूट, जबलपुर, सतना, खजुराहो जैसे स्टेशनों पर भी भीड़ रही जबकि झारखंड के धनबाद बोकारो, रांची, गढ़वा और मेदनी नगर स्टेशन से बड़ी संख्या में लोग प्रयागराज के लिए रवाना हुए। अमृत स्नान के बाद अपने-अपने शहर वापस जाने वाले लोगों और श्रद्धालुओं का भारी हुजूम रेलवे स्टेशनों पर उमड़ना संभावित है। इसे ध्यान में रखते हुए उत्तर मध्य रेल, पूर्वोत्तर रेल और उत्तर रेलवे ने व्यापक तैयारी की है और सभी अधिकारियों एवं कर्मचारियों को अपने कार्य स्थल पर मुस्तैदी के साथ टिके रहने का निर्देश दिया है। रेलवे ने मौनी अमावस्या के दिन 360 से अधिक गाड़ियों का परिचालन करके 20 लाख से अधिक लोगों को उनके गंतव्य स्थान पर भेजने में सफलता पाई थी। महाशिवरात्रि स्नान के बाद भी श्रद्धालुओं की सेवा के लिए अधिक संख्या में ट्रेनों को चलाने की योजना बनाई गई है और प्रयागराज के समीप वाले स्टेशनों पर अतिरिक्त रेक रखे गए हैं जिनका उपयोग आवश्यकतानुसार किया जाएगा। सूत्रों के अनुसार रेलवे ने प्रारंभ में महाकुंभ के दौरान लगभग 13500 गाड़ियों के चलने की योजना बनाई थी। महाकुंभ के 42वें दिन तक 15000 से अधिक ट्रेनें चलाई जा चुकी हैं जिनमें बड़ी संख्या में स्पेशल ट्रेनें भी शामिल हैं। रेलवे की पूरी व्यवस्था की निगरानी का नेतृत्व रेल मंत्री अश्विनी वैष्णव ने स्वयं किया है। रेलवे बोर्ड के अध्यक्ष और मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी सतीश कुमार भी लगातार रेलवे बोर्ड से ट्रेनों की मॉनिटरिंग में लग रहे हैं। तीन जोनल रेलवे के महाप्रबंधक भी अपनी टीम के साथ रेलवे व्यवस्थाओं को मजबूत बनाने में लगे हुए हैं। रेल मंत्री अश्विनी वैष्णव ने रेलवे बोर्ड के अध्यक्ष और सभी जोन के महाप्रबंधकों को निर्देश दिया है कि महाकुंभ के यात्रियों की सुविधा का पूरा ख्याल रखा जाए। जरूरत पड़ने पर अधिक संख्या में स्पेशल ट्रेनें चलाई जाए।
महाशिवरात्रि की भीड़ के मद्देनजर रेल प्रशासन द्वारा श्रद्धालुओं की सुविधा के लिए, सुरक्षा, आश्रय, आसान टिकट वितरण एवं बड़ी संख्या में गाड़ियों की व्यवस्था की गयी है। प्रयागराज के सभी स्टेशनों पर रेलवे वाणिज्य विभाग के 1500 से अधिक तथा रेल सुरक्षा बल के 3000 से जवानों की तैनाती की गई है। रेलवे सुरक्षा विशेष बल की 29 टुकड़ियाँ, महिला रेलवे सुरक्षा विशेष बल की 02 टुकड़ियाँ, 22 डॉग स्क्वाड एवं और 02 बॉम्ब डिस्पोजल स्क्वाड को भी प्रयागराज में ड्यूटी पर लगाया गया है। स्काउट्स एवं गाइड्स, सिविल डिफेंस सहित सभी विभागों की टीमें महाकुंभ में आए श्रद्धालुओं को बेहतर यात्रा सुविधा उपलब्ध कराने हेतु प्रयत्नशील हैं|
श्रद्धालुओं को सुलभता के साथ उनके गंतव्य तक पहुंचाने के लिए प्रयागराज क्षेत्र के सभी स्टेशनों पर आंतरिक मूवमेंट प्लान के अनुरूप कार्य किया गया और श्रद्धालुओं को विशेष गाड़ियों के माध्यम से उनके गंतव्य के लिए रवाना किया गया|
Special Arrangements by Railways for Maha Shivaratri
Plan to Run More Than 350 Trains from Prayagraj
Instructions for Special Vigil at Stations – Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways
The final “Amrit Snan” of the Maha Kumbh 2025 will take place on 26th February. A large number of devotees from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bengal, have arrived in Prayagraj to take a holy dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. On Sunday and Monday, stations like Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Sasaram, Katihar, Khagaria, Saharsa, Jayanagar, and Darbhanga in Bihar saw a higher number of passengers. Similarly, stations in Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gonda, Dindayal Upadhyay, and Jhansi, witnessed a significant increase in passengers heading to Prayagraj. Stations in Madhya Pradesh, such as Chitrakoot, Jabalpur, Satna, and Khajuraho, also saw heavy crowds, while large numbers of people left from stations in Jharkhand like Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ranchi, Garhwa, and Medininagar towards Prayagraj. After the “Amrit Snan,” a large crowd of people and devotees are expected to return to their respective cities, which could lead to a rush at the railway stations
In view of this, North Central Railway, East Coast Railway, and Northern Railway have made extensive preparations and instructed all officials and employees to stay vigilant and on duty. The railways successfully ran over 360 trains on the day of Mouni Amavasya, transporting more than 20 lakh people to their destinations. After the Maha Shivaratri bath, plans have been made to run additional trains, and extra coaches have been stationed at stations near Prayagraj, which will be used as needed.
Sources indicate that the initial plan during the Maha Kumbh was to operate around 13,500 trains. As of the 42nd day of the Maha Kumbh, more than 15,000 trains have been run, including a large number of special trains. The entire arrangement has been closely monitored by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Satish Kumar, has also been constantly monitoring the trains’ operations. The General Managers of the three zonal railways are also working with their teams to strengthen the railway arrangements.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed the Railway Board Chairman and the General Managers of all zones to ensure that the comfort of the passengers at the Maha Kumbh is prioritized. Additional special trains will be run as necessary.
Considering the expected crowd on Maha Shivaratri, the railway administration has made arrangements for the convenience of devotees, including security, shelter, easy ticket distribution, and a large number of trains. Over 1,500 commercial department staff and 3,000 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been deployed at various stations in Prayagraj. 29 squads of Railway Protection Special Force, 2 squads of Women Railway Protection Special Force, 22 dog squads, and 2 bomb disposal squads have also been stationed in Prayagraj. Scouts and Guides, Civil Defence teams, and all other departments are working to provide better travel services to the pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh.
To ensure smooth transportation, internal movement plans have been put in place at all stations in the Prayagraj area. Devotees have been sent to their destinations via special trains. At Prayagraj Junction, devotees have been directed to passenger shelters, and special trains were arranged accordingly. When the number of passengers increased, the railway implemented its emergency plan and held people at Khusro Bagh, safely and systematically moving them through passenger shelter sheds to board trains. All activities were monitored by senior officers of the Prayagraj division from the control tower at Prayagraj Junction, with decisions made promptly to avoid any disruptions in train services and to send devotees to their destinations. Additionally, medical care was provided at observation rooms set up at various stations for any pilgrims in need.
Devotees attending the Maha Kumbh in 2025 have also embraced the railway’s digital services. Millions of passengers have accessed the web page and the Kumbh app.
In the final weekend of the Maha Kumbh, the railway team continued managing regular and special trains. On Sunday, the railway successfully ran 335 trains, transporting over 16 lakh people to their destinations.
SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY ORGANISES ZRUCC MEETING
Kolkata, 25th February, 2025
The 104th Meeting of Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) was held under the Chairmanship of Shri Anil Kumar Mishra, General Manager, South Eastern Railway at Kolkata on 25.02.2025.
The ZRUCC Meeting was attended by Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Hon’ble MP, Shri Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, Hon’ble MP, Shri Khiru Mahato, Hon’ble MP, Shri Kalipada Saren Kherwal Hon’ble MP, Shri Shyamal Mondal Hon’ble MLA and other Hon’ble Members. Altogether 18 Hon’ble Members of ZRUCC attended the meeting.
Shri Anil Kumar Mishra, General Manager, South Eastern Railway apprised the Hon’ble Members of the recent achievements and developmental activities of SER. He mentioned about the initiatives in passenger amenities, progress of construction work, improvement of safety measures, growth in freight loading, Station Redevelopment under Amrit Station Scheme, running of Vande Bharat Express, One Station One Product scheme etc.
The Hon’ble Members while appreciating the developmental measures taken by South Eastern Railway, offered their valuable suggestions for further improvement of train services, passenger amenities and better connectivity. Suggestions and demands of the members included punctuality in train services, extension of train routes, additional stoppages of trains, increase in frequency of trains, restoration of pre-pandemic train services etc. They also mentioned about the need of more passenger amenities at stations like lift, escalator, toilets, platform shed, ramp for passengers etc.
General Manager, Shri Anil Kumar Mishra in his address said that all due importance would be given to the suggestions and demands of the Hon’ble Members. General Manager also spoke about the need of co-operation of the Hon’ble Members for speedy implementation of railway projects. They have also offered their valuable suggestions for development of Railway infrastructure over South Eastern Railway.
Shri Soumitra Majumdar, Additional General Manager and other Principal Head of Departments of South Eastern Railway were present in the meeting.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Photo: Shri Anil Kumar Mishra, General Manager, South Eastern Railway holding meeting with Hon’ble Members of Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) at Kolkata on 25.02.2025.
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