Centre To Implement AI, Holding Zones At 60 Railway Stations After Deadly New Delhi Stampede

The Centre plans to construct permanent holding zones at 60 high-traffic railway stations to manage the increased number of passengers, with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for crowd control and crisis management, reported India Today.

This decision follows the tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station, which resulted in 18 fatalities, triggered by a sudden surge of Maha Kumbh devotees heading towards Prayagraj.

Local authorities will be trained in crisis management and situational awareness, according to sources. Directional signs, arrows, and barriers will be implemented to direct passengers to designated holding areas.

AI technology will be employed to track crowd movement, particularly during train delays, with a central war room monitoring 35 stations connected to Prayagraj.

Cameras will observe crowded areas such as foot over-bridges and staircase landings as part of the crowd control measures, with 200 CCTVs installed at New Delhi railway station alone.

As 90% of the devotees travelling to the Maha Kumbh come from a 300 km radius across four states, busy stations will be specifically monitored. The Railways will also launch a special campaign to identify overcrowding issues, gathering feedback from passengers, porters, and shopkeepers.

Stampede at New Delhi station

The stampede occurred around 10 pm on Saturday night when a mix-up in train announcements caused a large group of passengers to rush towards platform 16 via a narrow stairway at New Delhi railway station. Trapped between passengers moving in opposite directions, the crowd became a bottleneck. Panic ensued, and people fell, resulting in a deadly crush.

Some sources suggest that delays in train departures and the sale of over 1,500 general tickets per hour at the station may have contributed to the chaos.

The Railway Ministry has set up a high-level committee to investigate the stampede, comprising two senior administrative officials. The committee is reviewing CCTV footage and other documents, with the report expected soon.

In response to the incident, the Railways has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.

As a result of the stampede, counter sales of platform tickets at New Delhi station will be suspended until February 26, when the Maha Kumbh concludes. However, platform tickets will still be available through automatic vending machines.

Northern Railways has also confirmed that all special trains to Prayagraj will depart from platform number 16, with passengers travelling to Prayagraj advised to use the Ajmeri Gate side of the station.