Sealdah Division Gears Up To Facilitate Pilgrims By Ensuring Smooth Arrangements During Ensuing Ganga Sagar Mela-2025.

Eastern Railways, Fairly Place, Kolkata.

Vide a press release dated 26/12/2024, the Eastern Railways have brought it to the notice of the devotees, aspiring to participate in the Ganga Sagar Mela to be held at Sagar Island, South Twenty-Four Paraganas, from 12^th. January, 2025 to 16^th. January, 2025 that:

In a bid to cope up with the anticipated huge rush for the forthcoming Ganga Sagar Mela 2025, Railway administration gears up to face the challenge for ensuring smooth arrangement during Mela days from 12.01.25 to 16.01.25.

A high level meeting was convened at DRM Conference room at Sealdah to discuss with all branch officers regarding the necessary arrangements for controlling massive crowd expected during Mela days and facilitating them with proper arrangements. Various issues were deliberated in the emergency meeting and it has been decided to take following measures for ensuring smooth handling of passengers: –

• 72 special trains will operate in the route from 12th to 16th January. List & timing of special trains will be advertised in print media well in advance. Details of extra train services will be announced in public address system also at stations and circulating area. Some extra empty rakes will be stationed enroute to disperse extra crowd at any point of time.

• “MAY I HELP YOU” Booths will be opened at busy stations like Sealdah South, Princep Ghat, Kakdwip & Namkhana. Designated helpline numbers will be provided at these booths for facilitating devotees. A list of important phone numbers including police stations, hospitals and fire brigades will also be displayed at such booths so that emergency assistance can be provided in the hour of need.

• Special RPF force will be deployed at different major stations like Sealdah South, Princep Ghat, Kakdwip, Namkhana etc. Volunteers will be deployed from Civil Defence, Scout & Guide and St. John’s Ambulance. RPF personnel will keep close coordination with GRP and local administration for manning the crowd and maintaining law & order. Police Assistance booths with prominent banners will be constructed at Sealdah, Princep Ghat, Kakdwip & Namkhana.

• Proper cleanliness, Sanitary and lighting arrangement will be ensured at stations and circulating areas of major stations. Sufficient drinking waters will be available in all major stations during the Mela days.

• Additional ticket booking counters (05 numbers at Kakdwip, 05 numbers at Namkhana) will be functional to cater to the extra rush. Temporary deployment of additional booking clerks will be made for operating special counters o­n 24×7 basis. Mobile UPS (15 nos. at Kakdwip & 5 at Namkhana) with volunteers will be provided at stations to provide tickets to all commuters. All ticket counters will remain operational throughout the day and night from 12.01.25 to 16.01.25 at Sealdah station.

• Train indication system and Passenger address system will be specially monitored at Sealdah South, Princep Ghat, Kakdwip & Namkhana. Adequate number of loud hailers will also be made available to meet unexpected failure of public address system.

• Medical teams with doctors, equipped with necessary medical supplies and personnel, are stationed at strategic locations to provide immediate medical assistance to any devotees during the Mela days. Well-equipped medical booths and ambulances will be provided at Sealdah, Kakdwip and Namkhana station.

• Pay & Use toilets at Sealdah, Kakdwip and Namkhana station will be in good and clean condition for the usage of the Pilgrims.

• CCTV Surveillance is another important aspect. All vulnerable locations will have functional Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, with live feeds monitored at control rooms. 28 numbers of extra CCTV cameras at Sealdah and 22 numbers at Namkhana will be provided for this purpose.

• Two Tower Wagons will be kept ready at Baruipur and Lakshmikantapur, which should rush to the site in case of any overhead wire failure. o­ne more Tower Wagon will remain at Sealdah as stand by.

• Station Managers will ensure availability of staff strength at stations to facilitate pilgrims. Platforms and concourse area will be kept clean and hygienic. Adequate number of fire buckets and fire extinguishers will be there to rise up to the occasion in case of any emergency. There will be sufficient security deployment at both ends of Foot Over Bridge (FOB) in Namkhana and Kakdwip to avert any unto-wart situation.

By Suvro Sanyal.