Nagpur railway station tightens security, plans seven special trains for Dhammachakra Pravartan Din

Dhammachakra Pravartan Din and Vijayadashami will be observed in Nagpur on October 20, and a large number of devotees from across the country are expected at Deekshabhoomi. Keeping the crowd in mind, security at Nagpur railway station is being tightened. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) have begun special preparations for passenger safety and crowd management. According to GRP estimates, about one lakh passengers may pass through Nagpur railway station during this period.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar took diksha into Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur on October 14, 1956, along with lakhs of his followers. Dhammachakra Pravartan Din is observed every year in memory of that historic event. Followers come to Nagpur from different states of the country for the occasion. Given the growing number of devotees, special attention is being paid to passenger amenities at the station, along with security.

Additional police personnel will be deployed at the station from October 15 to 22. The entire period will be under special security arrangements. Armed personnel will be posted at the main entrance of the station. Additional personnel will also be stationed on the platforms and at key spots where passenger movement is heavy, so that the crowd can be kept under control and any untoward incident can be dealt with.

CCTV cameras installed in the station premises will be used to watch for suspicious movement, allowing every corner of the station to be monitored. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and the dog squad will also carry out regular checks of the station premises, platforms and other sensitive locations. Security agencies will remain alert to deal with any possible threat.

Central Railway is making arrangements to run seven special trains for the convenience of passengers, given the expected crowd of devotees. Preparations are also under way to provide additional ticket counters, arrange drinking water and increase seating facilities for passengers.

As the number of passengers will rise during Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, crowding is likely on platforms, entrances and exit routes. Besides deploying GRP and RPF personnel, special attention will therefore be paid to the movement of the crowd. The railway administration is trying to ensure that devotees face no difficulty at the station and that their journey remains safe and smooth.