GUWAHATI, June 20 - Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has made arrangements for smooth handling of extra rush of passengers expected at the Kamakhya station during the Ambubachi Mela. The Kamakhya station is expected to witness huge congregation of passengers during the period.
�Preparedness for handling large volumes of passenger traffic at the station has been made operational with effect from today. Information desks have been opened at Platform No.1 and 4 of the Kamakhya station to provide all necessary information to pilgrims. Announcement in various languages is being made frequently about trains and about facilities made available for the pilgrims,� Pranav Jyoti Sharma, NFR�s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) said.
The Maligaon-headquartered NFR has deployed security staff at platforms, foot over-bridges, entry gates, level-crossing gates and nearby railway tracks to streamline the rush of pilgrims for proper crowd monitoring.
Railway paramedical staff has been deployed along with basic medicines to provide medical assistance to the pilgrims.
�A doctor would be available in the station round the clock. Packets of ORS have been stocked for distribution among people who suffer from dehydration. Two additional windows have been opened at the PRS/UTS centre at Kamakhya station. All ticket counters, both reserved and unreserved, will be manned round the clock during the period. The PRS centre at the Kamakhya temple will work in two shifts instead of one,� Sharma said.
Stoppage time of many important trains at the Kamakhya station has been increased by two to five minutes to provide adequate boarding and de-boarding time to pilgrims. Attachments of additional coaches in a few trains are also being planned.
�Proper sanitation at stations will be maintained by deploying additional staff with necessary materials on round-the-clock basis. Unauthorised vendors will not be allowed and strict monitoring will be done. A sufficient number of additional drinking water taps for pilgrims have been provided on the station premises. The approach to the Kamakhya station will be kept free from any encroachment during the period of the Mela for ease of movement of pilgrims,� he said.
Volunteers from Railway Scouts and Guides will be deployed round-the-clock to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims during boarding and de-boarding of trains.
�Proper illumination of the entire station and surrounding areas has been made for ease of movement of pilgrims. A 24-hour control room is being set up at the station, which will be manned by staff and senior officer for proper monitoring. RPF helpline number 182 remains functional 24x7,� said the NFR CPRO.
NFR is working in tandem with the State authorities in this regard, he added.
