Kolkata: The Gangasagar Mela is a festival held annually at Gangasagar, West Bengal, on Makar Sankranti. It is one of the most renowned melas in India, attracting thousands of pilgrims from across the country. The Eastern Railway has made extensive arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims’ convenience. Milind K Deouskar, General Manager, Eastern Railway inspected Kakdwip and Namkhana stations on 11 January to assess the various arrangements made by the Eastern Railway. Principal Heads of Departments of Headquarters alongwith Deepak Nigam, Divisional Railway Manager, Sealdah and senior officers of Headquarters & Sealdah Division accompanied General Manager during his inspection.
Milind K Deoskar inspected the various facilities arranged for the pilgrims of Gangasagar Mela along with Deepak Nigam, Divisional Railway Manager, Sealdah, like functioning of “May I Help You” Counters, Booking Counters, Announcements through Public Address system for the guidance, Safety and Security of the Gangasagar pilgrims etc. He also reviewed timing of the additional EMU locals for the Mela purpose. He advised the Divisional Officials to make arrangements for proper guidance to the pilgrims for boarding the trains.
Deoskar advised regular garbage cleaning in and around the stations area during Mela. Station area should be kept under strict vigil of the security personnel with CCTV monitoring. Passengers must be guided properly with the state of art signage board indicating the route to the station and emphasized on punctual running of trains.
He also reviewed the special arrangements augmented for the convenience of the pilgrims of Gangasagar Mela. 12 additional EMU local trains are run on the Sealdah/Kolkata-Lakhmikantapur-Namkhana section upto 17 January, 2024 and 3 local trains on the same section have been extended for the Mela purposes, also inspected emergency lighting arrangements made at different stations on the Sealdah South Section especially at Sealdah, Lakshmikantapur, Kakdwip and Namkhana. RPF personnel at Lakshmikantapur, Namkhana and Kakdwip stations in coordination with the GRP are maintaining supervision over law and order and social harmony.
It is mentioned here that for the convenience of the pilgrims, Sealdah Division has opened sufficient number of counters this year at Sealdah, Kakdwip, Namkhana stations round the clock. Moreover, volunteers of Civil Defense, Scout & Guide of Eastern Railway and St. John Ambulance Brigade are deployed at those stations in addition to RPF and GRP. Special medical units are functioning at Kakdwip and Namkhana railway stations. General Manager, Eastern Railway inspected all the above items meticulously & advised concerned departments to be more vigilant & alert during the mela period.
Milind K Deouskar, General Manager, Eastern Railway conducted window leading inspection of Sealdah – Namkhana section. During his window leading inspection, he inspected fittings of track, safety gears, Over Head Equipment, points, cleanliness of the platforms etc.
