The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has drawn up special security arrangements to ensure the safety of hundreds of women travelling by trains for the Attukal Pongala.
Selected 275 RPF personnel will manage the security of the railway stations on March 1 and March 2 and additional RPF personnel have been drawn from other railway divisions under Southern Railway.
All important trains will have special RPF personnel. In addition, RPF personnel in uniform and plainclothes will travel in all trains. The railway premises from Kuzhithurai station to Kollam Junction will be specially watched from the point of security by RPF personnel.
On the day of Pongala, movement on foot overbridge at Thriuvananthapuram Central station will be regulated and movement will be allowed only in one direction. There will be restriction on vehicle parking in station on March 2.
Additional Bomb detection squad and Dog squad has also been mobilized. Additional lighting, announcement, first aid counters will be set up.
Seven additional ticket counters will be opened at Thiruvananthapuram Central and other stations as per need.
Additional ticket checking staff will be on duty for giving guidance to the passengers.
As the entire railway track in Thiruvananthapuram Central is electrified, Railways have appealed to the public not to place any hearth in the railway premises. Moreover, the devotees have also been requested not to make contact with the high voltage over head traction with long pole. Pongala rituals will not be permitted on platforms and vulnerable areas.
Additional ticket checking squads have been introduced this year to prevent ticketless travel. Penalty for ticketless travel is ₹ 250 or imprisonment up to six month.
Passengers may contact Security helpline 182,Women’s Helpline 9567869385 and Passengers Helpline 138 for assistance, according to the railways.
