Bhubaneswar: With passenger footfall witnessing a sharp rise during the festive season, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has urged passengers to adhere to crowd management measures and safety guidelines to prevent overcrowding and ensure hassle-free journeys.
The railway authorities have appealed to travellers to maintain discipline at stations and inside trains, cautioning that rushing, pushing and unnecessary congestion could lead to untoward incidents during the festive rush.
To manage the increased passenger movement, ECoR has put in place several arrangements, including the operation of special trains, enhanced deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel, and close monitoring of passenger movement at stations.
Passengers have been advised to maintain orderly queues while purchasing tickets, entering and exiting stations and boarding trains. They have also been asked to avoid crowding at foot overbridges (FOBs), escalators, staircases and platform edges, where congestion could pose serious safety risks.
The railway has urged passengers to reach stations well ahead of scheduled departures, pay attention to public announcements, verify platform numbers and follow instructions issued by railway officials and security personnel.
Emphasising safety, ECoR has warned against travelling on train footboards, buffers and rooftops, describing such practices as extremely dangerous and punishable under railway rules.
Carrying inflammable substances, firecrackers and other prohibited items on trains or railway premises has also been strictly prohibited.
Passengers have further been advised to remain vigilant about their belongings and immediately report unattended luggage or suspicious activities to RPF personnel or through Railway Helpline No. 139. ECoR has stressed that passenger cooperation, public awareness and collective responsibility are crucial to ensuring safe and comfortable journeys during the festive season.