SCR gears up with scientific crowd management plan for festive season

To handle festive crowds, South Central Railway has launched a crowd management strategy at Secunderabad station. With over 2 lakh daily passengers expected, measures include alternate train routes, new waiting zones, metro connectivity, and a 24x7 control room for safety and coordination

Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) has come up with a comprehensive crowd management strategy at Secunderabad railway station to handle the anticipated surge in passenger traffic during the forthcoming festive season. With redevelopment works underway and parts of the terminal and a foot over bridge closed, it has adopted a scientific approach to ease passenger flow and ensure safety.

Secunderabad railway station normally handles around 1.30 lakh passengers daily, but this number crosses 2 lakh per day during festivals. A two-day study of passenger movement revealed that nearly 90 per cent of unreserved passengers use the Platform No 1 side, which is better connected to bus, metro, and hotel facilities. The study also flagged heavy congestion at foot over bridge staircases, with peak-hour movement exceeding 10,000 passengers per hour.

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Key measures being taken include that certain trains during peak hours will be rerouted via Sanathnagar–Ammuguda–Moula Ali–Charlapalli, with halts at Charlapalli and other satellite stations.

Three designated waiting zones will be available, two on PF-1 side and one on PF-10 side to reduce crowding on platforms. A direct link from PF-1 to Secunderabad (West) Metro is being readied to separate incoming and outgoing passengers. More ticket counters, ATVMs, enquiry desks, and help centres will be deployed. Senior officers will be on round-the-clock duty to monitor passenger flow.

SCR advisory for passengers:

*Prefer Platform No 10 entrance, which has spacious access, lifts, FOBs and ample parking

*Arrive only as per scheduled train timings to avoid unnecessary congestion

*Download the RailOne App for real-time train running status, e-ticketing, food orders, and grievance redressal

*Follow signage and announcements for guided movement across FOBs and waiting zones

*Seek help from RPF, ticket checking staff, or enquiry counters in case of difficulty

*A 24×7 Control Room with enhanced surveillance set up to monitor the situation

* Control Room works in coordination among GRP, city police and RTC officials