Bhopal/Ujjain, April 29 (IANS) With an eye on the large scale Simhastha 2028 congregation, the Madhya Pradesh Police have begun comprehensive preparations, placing railway security and crowd management at the centre of its strategy.

At a high-level meeting of the State Railway Security Coordination Committee held at the Police Headquarters in Bhopal on Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana emphasised the need for long-term planning and seamless coordination among agencies, given the expected surge in pilgrim movement during Simhastha in Ujjain.

Chairing the meeting, DGP Makwana underlined that the state’s extensive railway network would play a critical role in handling the influx of devotees, according to a statement from Madhya Pradesh Police Headquarters.

“We must ensure advance planning, continuous monitoring and strong inter-agency coordination so that passengers experience safe and hassle-free travel, especially during large-scale events like Simhastha,” the DGP said.

The meeting focused on strengthening railway security infrastructure, improving surveillance, ensuring track safety, and enhancing preparedness at sensitive stations.

Discussions also covered crime prevention, passenger safety, particularly for women and senior citizens and swift response mechanisms during emergencies.

A significant part of the deliberations was dedicated to planning for the anticipated pressure on railways during Simhastha-2028.

Officials discussed running additional trains, managing heavy passenger volumes, improving station facilities, and deploying coordinated crowd control measures.

Parallel to these strategic discussions, the police have already rolled out on-ground training in Ujjain to prepare personnel for the mega event.

A 21-day specialised training programme, which began on April 22, is equipping officers with both theoretical and practical skills required for managing large gatherings.

A total of 117 officers are being trained as “master trainers”, who will further train personnel across districts.

The programme includes modules on crowd management, disaster response, handling extreme weather conditions, and effective communication with devotees.

Field visits are also part of the training, enabling officers to assess real-time arrangements such as entry and exit routes, parking zones, barricading systems, and crowd flow at key locations.

Officials said the early start to preparations reflects the scale and complexity of Simhastha, which draws millions of pilgrims.

By integrating railway security planning with ground-level training, the state aims to ensure a coordinated, technology-driven, and efficient policing model.

The initiative is expected to strengthen overall preparedness, ensuring safety, smooth transportation, and effective management of one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.

–IANS

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