Railways beef up security at all stations

Commuters will be able to travel by long-distance trains in comfort during the Ganesh festival as the railway police have taken special measures to control crowd and to maintain law and order. The RPF has beefed up security on specific railway stations which caters to outstation trains during the festival from Friday onwards.

At least 30 Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff will be deployed on railway platforms to control crowds and to maintain

in bigger mandals, it is an every day challenge to control crowd.

To attract visitors, organisers think of innovative ways and work day and night. Social messages are always a part of the celebrations and some mandals has put up messages against the deadly Blue Whale Challenge internet game and the farmers’ suicide as well. Some have eco-friendly themes and designed their pandals using waste materials.

“Blue Whale is the hot topic this year and almost all the adults would want to convey law and order.

Security at Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Dadar, Thane, Panvel and Roha will have deployment of at least 30 RPF personnel each.

“Extra deployment would be required on these stations as large number of commuters are likely to board their trains to Konkan where this festival is most popular,” said a senior RPF official.

The railway police will have additional force at Dadar, Parel, Chinchpokli and Cotton Green station as also Churchgate, an official said.

the message to stop this evil on social media to their wards and therefore we planned our pandal accordingly. We have used the audio-visual medium to make children understand the evils of the increasing use of social media,” said Pramod Sawant, President of Shrirang Sahavas Society, Thane. The society is celebrating the celebration Ganeshotsavfor nearly 47 years now.

Thane’s Jay Bhavani Mitr Mandal of Gokulnagar has put up a strong message to urge the government to waive off farmers’ loans.