Patna: The East Central Railway (ECR) has stepped up security at all stations ahead of Ram Navami on Friday, and placed Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on high alert to ensure smooth and safe movement of passengers, particularly at busy and sensitive stations, railway officials said.According to ECR’s principal chief security commissioner-cum-IG, RPF, Amaresh Kumar, apart from Patna Junction, heightened security arrangements have been put in place at Danapur, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Patliputra Junction, Sitamarhi, Janakpur Road, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Badlaghat, Darbhanga, Hajipur, Gaya and several other stations. “RPF personnel have been directed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance through CCTV cameras at all major stations,” he said.In addition, RPF intelligence personnel in plain clothes have been deployed at sensitive and vulnerable locations to keep a close watch and prevent any untoward incident. Kumar said special emphasis has been laid on crowd management, with RPF women personnel assigned to assist female passengers and effectively monitor crowd movement during peak hours at stations.The RPF IG said the area around the Mahavir Mandir side of Patna Junction, which witnesses heavy footfall during Ram Navami, has been placed under 24×7 surveillance since Thursday to ensure safe entry and exit of passengers. Besides, RPF personnel have begun random checks of passengers’ luggage using hand-held metal detectors, while sniffer dogs have been pressed into service during the movement of premier trains at Patna Junction to ensure foolproof passenger safety.Meanwhile, the railways have appealed to passengers, especially daily commuters, to cooperate with security personnel and follow guidelines to ensure a smooth travel experience during the festive rush, Kumar added.
