Indian Railways has implemented strict safety measures following the recent stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. Special holding areas and additional Railway Protection Force (RPF) deployment have been arranged at key stations, including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, New Delhi, and Anand Vihar, to enhance passenger safety and manage crowd movement. To prevent overcrowding on platforms, a designated holding area has been developed at Ghaziabad Station, with similar measures at other major stations. RPF personnel have been deployed along with ropes on platforms to ensure passengers do not cross the safety boundary while a train is arriving. This will ensure that passengers do not approach the train before it comes to a complete stop, an official said. MahaKumbh Mela Surge: Railways Strengthens Preparations With a significant increase in passenger traffic expected during the final week of the MahaKumbh Mela, Indian Railways has created holding areas at multiple stations under Northern Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and East Central Railway. These designated spaces, located outside platforms, regulate the entry of passengers based on their train departure times, preventing congestion and improving crowd management. Massive Holding Areas Across Key Stations Northern Railway has developed large holding areas, including: New Delhi: 12,710 sq ft Ghaziabad: 4,200 sq ft Anand Vihar: 3,800 sq ft Ayodhya Dham: 3,024 sq m Banaras: 1,280 sq m and 875 sq m Similarly, North Eastern Railway has set up areas at: Banaras: 2,200 sq ft Siwan: 5,250 sq ft Ballia: 8,000 sq ft Deoria: 3,600 sq ft Chhapra: 10,000 sq ft Gorakhpur: 2,500 sq ft East Central Railway has also implemented the initiative at several stations, including: Rajendra Nagar Terminal: 2,700 sq ft & 800 sq ft Patna Jn: 2,700 sq ft (two areas) Danapur: 2,700 sq ft & 2,400 sq ft Sasaram, Gaya, and multiple other locations: 2,000–3,375 sq ft North Central Railway has created major holding areas at: Prayagraj Jn: 10,737 sq m Naini: 10,637 sq m Prayagraj Chheoki: 7,500 sq m Additionally, in the Kumbh area, Northern Railway and North Eastern Railway have established permanent and temporary holding areas at: Prayag Jn: 10,000 sq m Phaphamau Jn: 8,775 sq m Jhusi: 18,000 sq m Prayagraj Rambagh: 4,000 sq m Ensuring Safe & Efficient Travel Similar crowd management systems were implemented successfully in the past during peak travel seasons such as Chhath and Diwali. The measures aim to streamline passenger movement, reduce risks, and enhance convenience. Indian Railways urges passengers to follow official guidelines and remain updated through official channels to ensure smooth and safe travel.