Following its successful use during the Pandharpur Yatra in Solapur, the mobile unreserved ticketing service (MUTS) was introduced at Nagpur railway station for the ongoing Tajuddin Baba Urs. From Monday to Wednesday, around 5,500 unreserved tickets were issued through these hand-held mobile devices, making the ticketing process more efficient for the large number of devotees.
To accommodate devotees attending the Urs, a major socio-religious event, the Nagpur Division of Central Railway operated four special trains from Mumbai and Nashik to Nagpur. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Vinayak Garg highlighted the railway’s dedication to supporting India’s vibrant cultural and religious diversity.
“The Urs crowd management was a challenge due to the festival’s unique appeal across various faiths. Our team worked tirelessly to ensure devotees travel safely,” Garg stated. To handle the influx of over three lakh devotees, the Nagpur Division put in place extensive crowd management strategies. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Aman Mittal outlined the efforts, mentioning that 90 additional ticket-checking staff and 70 extra Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel were deployed.
“We anticipated heavy commuter movement and devised elaborate plans to ensure smooth operations,” Mittal said. A dedicated waiting area has been created near Platform No. 8, the departure point for the special trains carrying over 5,000 passengers. To improve commuter comfort, round-the-clock refreshment facilities have been arranged in this zone. Additionally, five MUTS devices are being used to issue tickets swiftly, accommodating the surge in unreserved passengers heading to the Urs.
Three ambulances staffed with doctors and a firefighting bike have been stationed outside Nagpur railway station as part of the safety arrangements. A spacious holding area has also been created to manage the large crowd. The introduction of MUTS at the station represents a major advancement in modernising ticketing systems for large-scale religious events. With efficient coordination between ticketing, crowd control, and safety efforts, Central Railway is ensuring a hassle-free experience for devotees — further demonstrating its commitment to supporting India’s rich cultural traditions.
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