Gujarat's Udhna station returns to normal as Railways maintain orderly ops after rush
Surat, April 20
Orderly passenger movement and normal operations were observed at Udhna railway station in Surat on Monday, with railway authorities stating that the situation remained under control following the previous day's heavy rush.
According to the latest update, geo-tagged photographs taken around 12 P.M. showed no signs of overcrowding, with passengers moving in a regulated and systematic manner.
Officials said all necessary arrangements were in place to ensure smooth functioning and advised passengers to rely only on official communications, cautioning against unverified or misleading information.
Earlier in the day, structured queue management systems were implemented to facilitate boarding for Train No. 19045 Tapti Ganga Express (Udhna-Thawe).
Passengers were directed through designated holding areas and guided in organised queues towards platforms to ensure safe and disciplined boarding.
The departure of Train No. 09039 Udhna-Jaynagar (Unreserved) Special was also carried out in an orderly manner.
The train left Platform No. 6 with approximately 2,300 to 2,400 passengers onboard, with authorities reporting that boarding and movement were well-regulated.
Around 20 ticket checking staff and 25 personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) were deployed to manage operations and maintain safety.
Railway officials said similar arrangements had been in place earlier in the morning, when the same train departed at 08:30 A.M., with passengers guided systematically from holding areas to the platform under controlled conditions.
Passengers continued to express satisfaction with the arrangements, citing timely operation of special trains, availability of seats and adequate on-ground facilities.
Feedback indicated improved coordination and a smoother travel experience compared with the previous day.
The developments follow a surge in passenger numbers on Sunday, when overcrowding and long queues were reported at the station amid peak summer travel demand.
According to Railway officials, more than 23,000 passengers were facilitated through regular and special train services during the day.
Two additional special trains were departed at 09:40 P.M. and 11:30 P.M. to further decongest the station area.
Railway authorities said monitoring would continue, with arrangements such as holding areas and regulated queues remaining in place to ensure safe and efficient passenger movement during the ongoing travel season.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some systematic management! I was there on Sunday and it was pure madness. Long queues, no clear directions. Monday's arrangements with RPF and proper queues show that planning works. They should implement this permanently for peak seasons.
While the improved situation is commendable, it highlights a recurring issue. Why are we always reactive? The summer rush is predictable. These holding areas and extra staff should be a standard protocol from day one of the holiday season, not after chaos ensues.
As someone who travels frequently for work between Surat and Mumbai, orderly boarding is a game-changer. The mention of 20 ticket checking staff is key - fare evasion causes so much confusion. Hope this discipline continues beyond the news cycle.
Good job by the authorities! Deploying special trains in the night (9:40 & 11:30 PM) was a smart move to decongest. It shows they understood the problem. More power to the ground staff managing this. Traveling should not feel like a battle.
The real test will be the upcoming weekends and festivals. Managing 2300 passengers on one train is one thing, but handling 23,000+ daily is the challenge. Hope the 'monitoring will continue' promise is kept. Passengers also need to cooperate and not rush.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.