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No more visitors at platforms
November 8, 2007
In a move aimed at decongesting railway platforms during the peak
festival season, Northern Railway has decided not to sell platform
tickets from November 7 to 15. The restriction will be implemented
at the New
Delhi and Delhi Sarai Rohilla stations from where all the east
bound trains begin their journey.
The primary objective, say rail officials, is to ensure that there is no repeat of the stampede at Mughalsarai station earlier this year. R. Saxena, chief spokesperson, Northern Railway said: "Every year we witness maximum rush during the Diwali thousands of eager unreserved passengers thronging the stations, the platforms become virtually inaccessible with hundreds of relatives also coming to the station to see off their beloved. We wanted to follow the model adopted at airports and restrict entry of people to the platforms. Hence, for this one week, only passengers carrying valid journey tickets will be allowed access to the platforms. This will ensure better discipline as well as security for the passengers."
However, mixed reactions have come from the passengers regarding
this decision. "It is a good move. It will ensure that only genuine
passengers have access to the platforms. Not only will this ensure
better cleanliness and security, it will also make movement at the
platforms smoother," said Sai Prasanna, a passenger at the New
Delhi Railway Station.
Susantho Mukherjee, a passenger bound for Kolkata, expressed his strong reservations on the issue. "My mother is due to leave on November 11 by the Kolkata Rajdhani express. She is here to visit my sister. The initial plan was to get my sister to see her off from the platform at Delhi and I would have received her in Kolkata as I have to leave early for some urgent work. But I do not know how she can manage her luggage all by herself now. There is also the danger of overcharging byt eh coolies who might take advantage of her age," he said. The railways clarified that this was a temporary measure and would be valid only for the festive season.
Source: Times of India
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