Bhubaneswar: Passengers travelling during the festive season can report unattended baggage or suspicious activities to Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel or call Railway Helpline No. 139, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has urged, while appealing to travellers to strictly follow crowd management and safety guidelines to prevent overcrowding and ensure safe journeys.
In an advisory issued on Saturday, ECoR said several measures, 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, have been put in place to manage the festive rush.
The Railway, however, emphasised that the success of these arrangements largely depends on passengers’ cooperation and responsible behaviour.
Passengers have been advised to maintain orderly queues while entering and exiting stations, purchasing tickets and boarding trains. They have also been cautioned against rushing, pushing or creating congestion, particularly on foot overbridges (FOBs), escalators, staircases and near platform edges.
Travellers have been asked to use designated holding areas, wherever available, and wait there until their trains are ready for boarding. They should reach stations well in advance, follow instructions issued by railway officials and security personnel, pay attention to public announcements and verify platform numbers before boarding.
ECoR has warned against travelling on train footboards, buffers or rooftops, describing such practices as extremely dangerous and punishable under railway rules. Crossing railway tracks is strictly prohibited, and passengers have been advised to use foot overbridges or designated subways to move between platforms.
The Railway has also cautioned against unnecessary alarm chain pulling, which causes avoidable delays and inconvenience to other passengers and may invite legal action.
Carrying inflammable materials, firecrackers and other prohibited items on trains or railway premises is strictly prohibited, the advisory stated.
Passengers have further been urged to remain vigilant about their belongings and immediately report unattended luggage or suspicious activities to RPF personnel or through Railway Helpline No. 139.
