AMAR METRO
KOLKATA
PRESS RELEASE
METRO RAILWAY READY TO MANAGE PUJA RUSH
Kolkata, Date: 08.10.2024
Metro Railway has taken all possible measures to cater to the expected rush during Puja Days. Night-long services will be run on Saptami (10.10.2024), Ashtami - Nabami (11.10.2024) in Blue Line. Services will be available till midnight in Green Line -1 and till 1:45 AM on Green Line-2 during Puja days. Sufficient staff will be deployed at all Metro stations to meet any emergency. It is expected that like other years Metro Railway will this year be also the most preferred mode of transport for pandal hoppers.
Higher rank officers of Metro Railway will be present in different Metro stations to monitor and manage the rush. More than 100 additional staff will be deployed at various Metro stations of Blue Line and Green Line during these days to manage the rush of pandal hoppers.
Additional booking counters will be opened at stations if situation demands. Additional tokens and Smart Cards will also be provided at the booking counters to meet any emergency. Metro users are requested to use ‘Metro Ride Kolkata’ app for recharging their Smart Cards as well as book Integrated Mobile based QR Code Tickets while travelling in Blue Line, Green Line -1 and Green Line -2.
Rolling stock trouble shooting staff will be ready at strategic stations to attend any snag in rakes as well as escalators and lifts.“May I help you” booths will be opened at all important stations for the assistance of pandal- hoppers. Special First-Aid posts will be available on Dumdum, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kalighat and Howrah Metro stations. Officers and staff will be monitoring the situation on real-time basis from the Central Control of Metro Rail Bhavan during Puja days and take necessary action to ensure safety and security of passengers and smooth operations.
Considering the urgency, special security measures are being taken to avert any untoward incident in Metro premises from 08.10.2024 (Panchami) to 13.10.2024 (Ekadashi) in order to make Metro journey safe and secured.
Aiming to provide better services to the passengers, additional RPF and other staff will be deployed atDakshineswar, DumDum, Belgachia, Shyambazar, Sovabazar-Sutanuti, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Jatin Das Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Kavi Nazrul, Kavi Subhash, Sealdah ,Bengal Chemical, Esplanade (New), Howrah and Howrah Maidan stations.
This apart, the following preventive measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of the passengers:
1. Quick Response Teams (QRT) and Disaster Management Teams are going to be deployed at different stations and trains to tackle any emergency situations.Quick Response Teams will be armed with latest weapons.
2. Lady RPF Teams will be deployed in trains and stations to ensure safety and security of ladies and children.
3. Adequate number of RPF and staff will man platforms for crowd control with a clear instruction that no passenger crosses the yellow line mark, tunnel/viaduct mouth.
4. Patrolling at vital installations like Mid-point shaft, Cooling Tower, Pump House, Electric Sub-station etc. will be done.
5. Security arrangements at Noapara, Tollygunge, Kavi Subhash and Central Park Carsheds will also be strengthened during Puja days.
6. Dog Squad will be on high alert to undertake necessary anti-sabotage checking from 08.10.2024 to 13.10.2024.
7. RPF officers and staff will be deployed atDakshineswar, DumDum, Belgachia, Shyambazar, Sovabazar-Sutanuti, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Jatin Das Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Kavi Nazrul, Kavi Subhash, Sealdah, Bengal Chemical, Esplanade (New), Howrah and Howrah Maidan stations to regulate passenger movement and take necessary action to avert any sudden crowd build up.
8. Intelligence and Detective Wing officials will be moving around to keep surveillance of crowded stations.
9. Officials will remain on high alert at Security Control to monitor CCTV footage and ensure proper crowd management.
10. There will be frequent announcements through PA system to avoid any untoward incident.Loud Hailers will also be used by the RPF staff for assistance of the passengers and effective crowd dispersal.
11. Time to time photography and videography of different Metro stations will be done during Durga Puja to monitor the situation and keep record.
Kausik Mitra
Chief Public Relations Officer
