Jharkhand News : Eastern Railway managed 75,21,710 pilgrims at six major reporting stations during the Rajkiya Shravani Mela 2026 up to August 28. The figure was 68,04,716 in 2025, marking a 10.54% increase this year.
Under the leadership of General Manager Geetika Pandey, Eastern Railway ensured smooth and safe train operations while providing extensive passenger facilities during the month-long religious gathering.
The General Manager inspected major stations and mela areas along with Asansol Divisional Railway Manager Sangrah Maurya, Howrah Divisional Railway Manager Vishal Kapoor, heads of departments and senior officials. The officials reviewed passenger arrangements and interacted directly with devotees to gather their feedback.
The number of pilgrims increased by 24.67% at Basukinath, 19.91% at Tarakeswar and 15.45% at Deoghar compared with the previous year.
Special Arrangements for Crowd Management
To manage the heavy rush, special holding and assembly areas were created at several stations. These included 84,500 square feet at Jasidih, 30,000 square feet at Deoghar, 12,000 square feet at Basukinath and 5,800 square feet at Baidyanathdham.
For additional ticketing facilities, 49 UTS, 28 ATVM and 49 Mobile UTS counters were operated across six stations. A total of 309 CCTV cameras were installed for security, while 890 RPF personnel were deployed on special mela duty.
Medical and Passenger Facilities Expanded
Eastern Railway deployed nine medical assistance booths and nine ambulances for pilgrims. These facilities provided assistance in 16,063 medical cases during the mela period.
Additional arrangements included drinking water, toilets, mobile bio-toilets, facilities for persons with disabilities, ‘May I Help You’ booths and passenger guidance services.
2,075 Special Train Trips Operated
To facilitate the movement of pilgrims, Eastern Railway operated a total of 2,075 mela special train trips. Station war rooms, passenger information systems, additional train services and coordinated security and medical arrangements helped maintain smooth passenger movement during peak days.
Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Shibaram Majhi said the successful conduct of Shravani Mela 2026 reflected the railway’s commitment to passenger safety, convenience and operational efficiency.
