Bandra terminus stampede: Western Railway sets up holding areas at station

A day after 10 people were injured in a stampede at Bandra Terminus, railway officials on Monday said they had set up a holding area outside the station by erecting large pandals to restrict passenger movement on platforms. As many as 11 lakh passengers travelled on the Mumbai division of Western Railway (WR) alone since October 15 this festival season. The holding area will contain crowds before they are allowed onto the platform. A passenger holding area measuring 370 sq m has been set up in the east circulating area for effective crowd management.

The holding area can hold 550-600 passengers at any point in time. It is equipped with adequate lighting and fans for passenger comfort. Three drinking water fountains have been provided, and a toilet block is also nearby. A public announcement system is available inside the holding area to keep waiting passengers updated about train movements," WR chief public relations officer Vineet Abhishek said.

People waiting in the holding area

"This area will minimise the number of waiting passengers on the platform and allow for a smooth entry of passengers onto the trains," he added. He said WR had run an unprecedented number of special trains to cater to the festive rush this year. Since October 15, a total of 200 special train services have been scheduled to destinations across the country, an increase of 86 per cent over last year for the same period, when 107 special train services were run.

The sign board outside the station directing people towards the holding area. Pics/Rajendra B. Aklekar

"This initiative has immensely benefited passengers and increased the total number of outstation passengers this year. Since October 15, 11 lakh reserved passengers have travelled from Mumbai Central division, compared to 9 lakh during the same period last year. In the unreserved segment, the total number of passengers travelling this year during this period is 20 lakh, compared to 19 lakh last year. The increased number of trains has ensured safe and convenient journeys for our passengers, who continue to place their trust in the services offered by Western Railway," he added.

Passenger body makes demands

In response to the stampede, the Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh, one of the oldest passenger associations in the city, has renewed its demand for time restrictions on season tickets (passes) and controlled access to stations. A formal complaint was filed today. "The rising number of railway accidents in Mumbai indicates the need for urgent attention. The Mumbai local train and long-distance railway network is the busiest and most crowded among railway networks across Asia. Unfortunately, pending projects, decision-making without addressing root causes, and mismanagement have led to a very high number of deaths on the tracks."

550-600
No of passengers that the holding area can contain