Mumbai : Considering the heavy rush at Charni Road station for devotees coming to Girgaon Chowpatty for Ganapati immersion on September 17/18, 2024, Mumbai Central Division of Western Railway has made several arrangements for crowd management and passenger convenience.

According to the press release issued by Shri Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, Mumbai Central Division will install additional CCTV cameras to monitor the crowd at Charni Road station and ensure proper management. Exclusive one-way routes are being created for more convenient movement of commuters on different routes without any hindrance. Apart from this, apart from the main entrance, another entrance will be opened at Bal Bhawan, so that the passengers coming from Girgaon Chowpatty can easily reach platform number 1 to catch the local train.

Shri Vineet further informed that, Western Railway will run 8 additional services between Churchgate and Virar on the intervening night of 17th and 18th September, 2024. Down slow train services of these additional 8 services will be given additional stoppage at Charni Road station, so that passengers can board comfortably without any hassle and maximum passengers can reach their homes at night. On September 17, 2024, 38 fast up local train services will stop at all stations between Churchgate and Mumbai Central station from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs. To avoid crowding of passengers coming and going on platform no. 2 and 3, approx. 88 UP slow local train services will not be halted at Platform No. 2 of Charni Road station from 17.00 hrs to 22.00 hrs on 17th September, 2024. Apart from the regular ticket counters, additional ATVM machines and facilitators are being arranged at the station and on the way to Bal Bhawan, so that passengers do not face any inconvenience in purchasing tickets. All necessary information and announcements will be made regularly. Signage and electronic display units displaying important information are being installed at the station for the convenience of passengers.

Shri Vineet said that apart from these arrangements, Western Railway will also ensure sale of water bottles and snacks in sufficient quantity at the station and on the way to and from Bal Bhawan. Ambulance facility has been provided by BMC and Western Railway at Charni Road station and arrangements for doctors, paramedical staff etc. are being made in the emergency medical room. Adequate arrangements for lighting and fans are being made at Charni Road station. There will also be one-way movement on the escalators of Platform 1.

From the security point of view, around 400 RPF and GRP personnel will be deployed to control the influx of passengers at Charni Road station. Help desks of RPF and GRP will also be set up to assist the passengers in case of any inconvenience or problem. Western Railway will make adequate arrangements for RPF barricading and queue managers, as well as make regular announcements through megaphone. A fire brigade will also be arranged at the station. Western Railway RPF is coordinating with State Police and GRP for deployment of maximum police force.

Shri Vineet informed that additional railway officers and staff will be on duty round the clock at Charni Road station on the intervening night of 17th and 18th September, 2024, while the Control and Command Center will be functioning at both the station and the control room. Recently Shri Neeraj Verma, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Central Division, also inspected the station along with the officers and staff to ensure that efforts are being made to improve the necessary facilities. Western Railway is committed to ensure passenger convenience and smooth crowd management for thousands of devotees arriving at Girgaum Chowpatty for Ganpati Visarjan.