Sealdah Division is preparing for a major Durga Puja passenger surge by hiring 270 ex-servicemen for 90 days and deploying around 1,200 additional Railway Protection Force personnel across stations, platforms and level-crossing gates. The temporary security force is expected to begin duty by Panchami, as railway authorities strengthen crowd control at one of Kolkata’s busiest suburban rail networks.
The division’s security wing is currently conducting the recruitment process for former servicemen aged 55 years or below. Selected candidates will undergo document verification and medical screening before they are assigned to duty, according to an official source cited by The Statesman.
The 270 ex-servicemen will work alongside regular RPF personnel at platforms, level-crossing gates and other locations under the Sealdah Division. The division has approached the Sainik Kalyan Board to support the recruitment. It hired around 208 ex-servicemen through the board’s assistance last year, but has increased the planned intake this year because of an expected rise in passenger numbers.
The railway division will also receive around 1,200 additional RPF personnel specifically for the Puja season. An official said the division had received one company from the RPF and expected the remaining personnel to arrive shortly. The additional force will supplement the regular security staff at stations and other high-footfall points.
The scale of the preparation reflects the operational pressure created by festive travel on the Sealdah suburban network. Sealdah Station recorded a footfall of 21 lakh passengers on a single day during Saptami last year, according to the railway authorities. Such concentrated passenger movement can create bottlenecks at platforms, station entrances, exits and connecting access points, particularly when trains arrive in quick succession.
To respond to sudden crowd surges, the division has prepared a contingency plan based on last year’s experience. CCTV cameras at more than 100 stations will relay live feeds to a control room at Sealdah Station. Officials will monitor passenger density and direct the RPF to move passengers away from platforms when necessary.
The plan includes using an existing parking lot as a holding area for passengers during periods of excessive crowding. Security personnel will also manage movement at entry and exit points and guide passengers to prevent uncontrolled accumulation on platforms. The authorities have not disclosed the exact station-wise deployment plan or the total number of stations expected to receive the temporary personnel.
The Sealdah Division’s preparations are focused on the immediate management of passenger flows during the Puja season. Recruitment, screening and deployment of the 270 ex-servicemen, along with the arrival of the remaining RPF personnel, are the next operational steps before the festive rush reaches its peak.
