Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava on Monday, 22 June conducted a comprehensive inspection of Kamakhya Railway Station in Guwahati, hours before the commencement of the Ambubachi Mela — one of eastern India's largest religious gatherings. The review covered crowd management, passenger amenities, security deployment, and operational readiness ahead of the festival, which runs from 22 to 26 June.

What the Inspection Covered

During the walkthrough, General Manager Shrivastava assessed a wide range of facilities put in place for the safety and convenience of pilgrims. These included crowd control measures, drinking water facilities, medical assistance posts, help desks, and security deployment across the station premises.

Shrivastava also interacted directly with railway staff and officials on duty, reviewing their operational readiness to handle the anticipated surge in passenger traffic. He emphasised the importance of constant vigilance, effective crowd control, and prompt assistance to arriving and departing devotees.

Directives Issued by the General Manager

The General Manager directed all concerned officials to remain alert at all times, closely monitor passenger movement, and coordinate effectively with security agencies and civil authorities. He also stressed the need for seamless train operations throughout the festival period and urged staff to ensure adequate information and guidance are available to pilgrims at all points within the station.

A particular focus was placed on maintaining cleanliness standards and ensuring smooth service delivery — areas that typically come under strain during large-scale religious events.

Special Trains and Augmented Services

To manage the expected influx of devotees, NFR has deployed several special unreserved train services connecting Kamakhya with key destinations across Assam and North Bengal. Additionally, a number of regular passenger trains have been temporarily augmented to increase carrying capacity during the mela period.

According to NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the annual event draws devotees from across the country, necessitating extensive operational and passenger facilitation measures by the Railways.

About the Ambubachi Mela

The Ambubachi Mela is held annually at the revered Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hills near Guwahati. The festival formally begins on Monday night and concludes on the morning of 26 June. Considered one of the most significant Shakti pilgrimages in the country, it draws lakhs of devotees, sadhus, and saints every year, placing enormous logistical demands on local infrastructure and transport networks.

This is not the first time NFR has ramped up operations for the mela — the railway zone has been incrementally scaling its Ambubachi preparations in recent years in response to growing pilgrim footfall. With arrangements now reviewed at the General Manager level, NFR has signalled its commitment to a safe and hassle-free travel experience for all pilgrims this season.