Festive rush at railway station

Secunderabad: Home-bound rush is making the Secunderabad railway station over crowded, huge number of people with their families leaving for their native places to celebrate Sankranti. Incidentally, the festival fall in weekend making the travel more than complicated. Though railway authorities are operating special trains, there is hardly any room to step in. Both regular and special trains are overcrowded. 

Keeping the situation in mind, railway authorities are operating 138 special trains from January 1 to 20. Last year there were only 92 special trains. Apart from increasing the number of special trains, additional coaches are also being attached to the regular trains.
More number of special trains is being operated to the destinations like Vijayawaada, Guntur, Ongole, Eluru, Narsapur, Kakinada, Rajahmahendravaram, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Tirupati, Chittoor, Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai. 

Daily services like Visakha, Falknuma, Godavari, Chennai, Charminar, Narayanadri, Machilipatnam, Narsapur, Simhapuri Expresses have no room. The reservation charts for these services were closed a long time ago. 

Not only general coaches, reserved coaches are also occupied by the travellers. Many passengers are arriving in the morning hours and waiting on the platforms. 
GRP and RPF police made special arrangements to contain any unwanted situations. They are also focussing on the pickpockets and baggage lifters who are very active during the rush.

RPF Inspector Rajagopal Reddy said that special teams were formed to control the pickpockets and baggage lifters. Security has been beefed up and additional forces have been deployed, he added.

RPF Sub-Inspector Balaji said RPF constables were employed to protect women, old-age people and kids who may accidentally slip from the platform.

GRP Inspector Chandraiah said they have been monitoring the situation time to time through CCTV surveillance. “We are focussing on habitual offenders and suspicious persons are being questioned. Expert teams are deployed and additional forces from the district are also called,” he said.

On the other hand, TTs are collecting hefty penalties from the violators in order to meet their targets, some passengers alleged. However, the heavy rush seems to continue for two more days.

By K B Ramesh