Rail passengers frustrated by inadequate crowd management
Pune: People opting for train journeys, particularly during festivals, are of the view that addition of general second class coaches triggers crowd chaos and does not make commute comfortable. Arun Ku...
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In Pune, train travelers, especially during festivals, are expressing concerns about the increased presence of general second class coaches causing overcrowding and discomfort. Arun Kumar Mishra, a senior citizen traveling from Pune to Darbhanga in Bihar, shared his experience of encountering ticketless passengers and those with general tickets occupying his confirmed sleeper class berth. The situation escalated when some passengers locked themselves in the toilet, delaying the journey. Despite raising the issue with the Train Ticket Examiner (TTE), fines were collected from the offenders instead of asking them to deboard. This prompted Mishra to seek assistance from Rail Madad, resulting in the removal of the unauthorized passengers at Ahmednagar. The announcement of special trains for the upcoming festive season has raised concerns among reserved ticket holders about the possibility of their berths being taken by passengers with general or no tickets. The addition of more general second class coaches in trains is expected to exacerbate this issue, allowing passengers with general tickets to occupy these compartments. To address the expected rush, ticket checking teams and security personnel have been deployed to maintain order. The practice of unauthorized passengers entering reserved compartments is seen as a growing problem by some travelers.Rajesh Doshi, a Pune resident and regular train commuter, expressed concerns about encountering numerous ticketless passengers while travelling on the Sinhagad Express in a reserved compartment. One individual falsely claimed to be a railway employee and took up a seat, highlighting a lack of proper enforcement of rules. Sagar Jadhav, who recently traveled on the Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto Express, experienced a similar issue where his reserved seat in coach DL1 was overcrowded with passengers even sitting on the floor. The problem of overcrowding extends beyond trains to platforms, with the Pune rail division considering setting up temporary waiting sheds to manage crowds and prevent issues like insufficient seating, limited water availability, and absence of proper waiting areas. The crowded platforms pose a serious risk of potential stampedes, emphasizing the need for improved crowd management measures.