Indian Railways Restricts Platform Entry to Prevent Overcrowding
In an effort to control overcrowding, Indian Railways has announced that only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed on platforms at 60 major railway stations, including Chennai. This decision comes after the tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station on February 15, which claimed 18 lives. To ease congestion, permanent waiting areas will be created outside these stations, and passengers will be allowed on platforms only when their train arrives.
Pilot projects have already started at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna stations. The railway authorities are also introducing new 12-metre and 6-metre-wide Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) across stations and increasing CCTV surveillance for enhanced monitoring. Additionally, station staff will be provided with new identity cards to ensure only authorized personnel have access. Station directors will have the power to control ticket sales based on station capacity.
In a separate development, the Railway Ministry has canceled all pending Group C departmental selections that were not finalized before March 4, 2025, due to irregularities in the selection process. No new selections will be initiated until further notice.
As compensation for the victims of the New Delhi railway station stampede, Indian Railways has announced ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and ₹1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
