Special arrangements by Railways for Simhastha

Bhopal : Railways has provided widespread facilities to passengers coming to Ujjain to attend Simhastha from April 22 to May 21. Besides, significant works have also been undertaken at Ujjain and nearby railway stations.

In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha informed that in view of massive number of devotees expected to attend Simhastha, a number of passenger facilities have been sanctioned at Ujjain railway station and adjoining satellite stations such as Nagda, Vikramnagar, Kshipra Bridge, Fatehabad, Naikheri, Chintaman Ganesh, Pingleshwar, Indore, Ratlam, Pawasa, Mohanpura etc. Some of the sanctioned works have been completed and others are in progress.

Ujjain railway station

Several works have been completed at Ujjain railway station. These include improvement of shelter at platforms 2, 3, and 6, 7, raising of platforms 1, 2/3 and 4/5, improvement to circulating area, development of sitting space with shed at Nagda end of platform 1, additional foot over bridge at Bhopal end, extension of existing FOB at Nagda end, additional entry and development of circulating area at Neel Ganga Colony side.

A number of works are in progress including provision of out to out FOB, augmentation of drinking water arrangements and provision of multiline train arrival/departure display board.

At Vikramnagar railway station, augmentation of drinking water arrangements & toilet facilities, improvement of circulating area have been completed.

At Pawasa and Mohanpura, temporary halt stations have been made.

At Nagda railway station, replacement of interconnecting FOB has been made at Kota end, provision of multiline train arrival/departure display board, raising of platform level from medium to high and extension of covered shed on platform number 4/5 have been taken up.

At Indore railway station, provision of multiline train arrival/departure display board are taken up. Provisions of additional facilities namely drinking water taps and toilets have been completed at Naikheri and Pingleshwar stations. Opening of additional ticket window counter is also proposed.

During Simhastha, concrete security arrangements will be made by GRP with the cooperation of district administration and RPF.

Based on previous experience, for catering to the huge influx of pilgrims during Maha Kumbh Simhastha at Ujjain elaborate arrangements have been made. For this purpose, special trains will also be run during Simhastha. Deployment of DEMU/MEMU rakes for short distance movement of pilgrims will be arranged and number of seats in existing rains will be increased.