Patna: With the monthlong Shrawani Mela beginning on Monday, the railways has beefed up security measures at all major stations, including Patna Junction, to manage the huge rush of devotees. Additional deployment of RPF personnel has been made at most stations under the Danapur division of the East Central Railway (ECR) to control the rush, Danapur divisional railway manager (DRM) Jayant Kumar Choudhary said.
“The railways held a joint meeting with the district administration and GRP officials on Friday to make adequate arrangements outside crowded stations like Patna Junction, Danapur, Ara and Kiul for smooth movement of passengers and vehicular traffic during the mela period. Railway officials have been deputed at all major stations to supervise the crowd management system with the help of RPF and GRP personnel,” the DRM added.
According to Danapur RPF senior commandant Prakash Kumar Panda, the RPF has enhanced its security surveillance through CCTV cameras at Patna Junction to keep a close watch on passenger movement. “Though 150 high-resolution CCTV cameras are functional, the railways has decided to install more advanced CCTV cameras to maintain 24×7 security measures at Patna Junction,” he said.
The railways has also set up help desks at Patna Junction, Danapur, Ara and Kiul to assist devotees in boarding trains and provide updated information on the arrival and departure of Jasidih and Deoghar-bound trains. “The RPF and GRP personnel have been tasked with escorting 150 passenger trains in the Danapur division alone,” Panda added.
The railways has also established medical assistance kiosks under the direct supervision of railway doctors at all crowded stations to provide first aid or medical help in emergencies during the mela period. Volunteers from NCC, scouts and guides have been roped in to help devotees get free water bottles and control the crowd at Patna Junction and other stations, the RPF senior commandant said.

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