Railways Plans Crowd Management For Attukal Pongala

06 Mar 2026 CW Team

Pilgrims and other passengers were directed to use the main entrance at Thampanoor, the parcel office or the underpass near the Thycaud Women's Hospital. The guidance included directions for those with mobility needs to approach staff at designated help points for assistance. Railways asked travellers to follow signage and instructions from station personnel to maintain orderly access.

To streamline operations on the Pongala day, trains heading towards Kollam would depart from platforms one to four while services towards Nagercoil would operate from platform five. Unreserved ticketing facilities would be arranged within holding zones and access would be managed by scheduled departure times. The arrangement aimed to reduce crowding on platforms and facilitate timed boarding that aligned with train schedules.

Reserved ticket holders would be allowed direct entry through the main entrance and were encouraged to carry valid tickets for verification to expedite movement. Parking restrictions and controlled entry were intended to free space for pedestrian flow and emergency access. Staff and security personnel were to be deployed to monitor crowd density and provide directional assistance.

The railways emphasised that coordination with local authorities and clear communication at station approaches were central to the crowd management plan. Travellers were urged to cooperate with staff and to allow extra time for onward journeys during the festival period. The measures were presented as part of wider efforts to balance access for pilgrims with operational safety and punctuality.

With hundreds of thousands of devotees expected to converge for the annual Attukal Pongala on March three, the railways announced arrangements at Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station to manage the surge in passenger traffic and ensure movement. Officials said parking at the station would be strictly regulated from March one to three and that the second entrance on the Power House Road side would remain closed owing to redevelopment works. Passengers were advised to rely on alternative entry points and to plan arrival and departure times in accordance with their travel needs. Pilgrims and other passengers were directed to use the main entrance at Thampanoor, the parcel office or the underpass near the Thycaud Women's Hospital. The guidance included directions for those with mobility needs to approach staff at designated help points for assistance. Railways asked travellers to follow signage and instructions from station personnel to maintain orderly access. To streamline operations on the Pongala day, trains heading towards Kollam would depart from platforms one to four while services towards Nagercoil would operate from platform five. Unreserved ticketing facilities would be arranged within holding zones and access would be managed by scheduled departure times. The arrangement aimed to reduce crowding on platforms and facilitate timed boarding that aligned with train schedules. Reserved ticket holders would be allowed direct entry through the main entrance and were encouraged to carry valid tickets for verification to expedite movement. Parking restrictions and controlled entry were intended to free space for pedestrian flow and emergency access. Staff and security personnel were to be deployed to monitor crowd density and provide directional assistance. The railways emphasised that coordination with local authorities and clear communication at station approaches were central to the crowd management plan. Travellers were urged to cooperate with staff and to allow extra time for onward journeys during the festival period. The measures were presented as part of wider efforts to balance access for pilgrims with operational safety and punctuality.

Equipment

21 Apr 2026

India CE Industry Ends FY26 on a Steady Recovery Path

India’s construction equipment industry closed FY26 on a stable note, reflecting measured resilience and gradually improving momentum. Total sales in Q4 FY26 rose 4 per cent year on year to 42,906 units, extending the recovery seen over the past two years.Domestic demand for the full year remained under pressure, declining 7 per cent, but exports provided strong support. Overall exports grew 31 per cent, while non-OEM exports increased 13 per cent, highlighting sustained demand from overseas markets.March 2026 further underlined the recovery, with sales rising 6 per cent year on year and 13 ..

Infrastructure Urban

21 Apr 2026

Leaders Question FIR Against Anil Agarwal

Several industry and public figures have questioned the FIR filed against Anil Agarwal following the boiler accident in Chhattisgarh, while also expressing condolences over the loss of lives and calling for a thorough investigation.Naveen Jindal said the tragedy was deeply painful and stressed that compensation, livelihood support for affected families and a fair probe were essential. He also questioned naming Agarwal in the FIR before completion of the investigation.Kiran Bedi urged restraint, saying investigations should focus on learning lessons and strengthening systems rather than prematu..

Infrastructure Urban

21 Apr 2026

Tier 2, 3 Cities Drive 66% of New D2C Orders

Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities accounted for 66 per cent of new direct-to-consumer (D2C) orders in FY 2026, according to a new analysis by Unicommerce.The report said buyers from smaller cities also contributed 60 per cent of incremental gross merchandise value (GMV) in FY 2026 compared with FY 2025, highlighting rising demand beyond metro markets.Overall, India’s D2C segment recorded strong growth, with order volumes rising 33 per cent and GMV increasing 32 per cent year-on-year. The findings are based on more than 400 million order items processed through brand websites on Unicommerce’s Uniwar..