Key Highlights

• Festive focus: The 8th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs discussed crowd management for Diwali, Chhath and other festivals.
• Faster complaint redressal: GRP personnel were onboarded onto the RailMadad platform by CRIS for grievance handling and complaint monitoring.
• Women-led surveillance: South Central Railway showcased "Pink Patrol," combining drone surveillance with SHAKTI rapid-response teams.
• Tackling stone-pelting: Hotspot patrolling, surveillance, strict action and youth outreach were highlighted as key measures.
• Top officials present: The meet was chaired by DG RPF Sonali Mishra and attended by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar.

With Diwali and Chhath around the corner, millions of passengers are set to crowd railway stations across the country. To keep that movement safe and orderly, Government Railway Police (GRP) chiefs from various states and Union Territories met in New Delhi to plan for the festive rush, according to an official statement on Saturday.

The 8th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs, convened by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), brought together officials to discuss emerging security challenges, share best practices and strengthen coordination among the RPF, GRP and state police.

Who Attended

The high-level conference was presided over by Director General, RPF, Sonali Mishra. It was attended by Chairman and CEO, Railway Board, Satish Kumar, members of the Railway Board, and GRP chiefs from different states and UTs.

Delhi's Crowd-Management Model

Northern Railway's Delhi Division presented its coordinated approach with Delhi Police, GRP and Delhi Metro authorities. The arrangements include CCTV surveillance, public announcements, barricading, designated holding areas and dedicated control rooms.

"Emphasis was laid on advance planning, efficient passenger-flow management and coordinated deployment of security personnel to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement during peak periods," the Railways Ministry said.

Why It Matters

The weeks around Diwali and Chhath see some of the heaviest passenger traffic of the year, especially on routes to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and eastern India. Overcrowded platforms and rush at train doors make planning essential. Holding areas, real-time monitoring and joint deployment across agencies can help avoid dangerous crowding at major stations.

RailMadad Gets a GRP Boost

A key highlight was the onboarding of GRP personnel onto the RailMadad platform by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). The move aims to improve passenger grievance redressal, timely information sharing and complaint monitoring.

For passengers, this could mean quicker responses to complaints involving theft, harassment or other crimes, since GRP handles law and order matters on trains and at stations.

Pink Patrol: Drones and Women-Led Response

South Central Railway showcased its "Pink Patrol: Eyes in the Sky, SHAKTI on the Ground" initiative. The women-led model combines drone-assisted surveillance with rapid-response teams under the SHAKTI framework, offering an added layer of safety for women travellers.

Stone-Pelting Flagged as a Concern

Stone-pelting on trains was also discussed as a serious challenge. "Stone-pelting on trains was highlighted as a challenge, with emphasis on hotspot-based patrolling, enhanced surveillance, strict action against offenders, youth outreach and stronger RPF-GRP coordination. Community awareness and preventive engagement were recognised as important deterrents," the statement said.

Project DISHA: Reaching Children Near Tracks

Central Railway's Pune Division presented Project DISHA (Dedicated Initiative for Safety, Harmony & Awareness). It engages children living near railway tracks through educational and recreational activities, safety awareness sessions and community interventions.

Working with NGOs, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers and local communities, the project builds awareness about railway safety while discouraging stone-pelting, theft, trespassing and other unsafe behaviour.

The Bottom Line

The conference signals a shift from reactive policing to prevention, technology and community engagement. How well these plans work will be tested in the coming weeks, when festive crowds put railway security to its toughest test of the year.

Key Highlights

• Festive focus: The 8th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs discussed crowd management for Diwali, Chhath and other festivals.
• Faster complaint redressal: GRP personnel were onboarded onto the RailMadad platform by CRIS for grievance handling and complaint monitoring.
• Women-led surveillance: South Central Railway showcased "Pink Patrol," combining drone surveillance with SHAKTI rapid-response teams.
• Tackling stone-pelting: Hotspot patrolling, surveillance, strict action and youth outreach were highlighted as key measures.
• Top officials present: The meet was chaired by DG RPF Sonali Mishra and attended by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar.

With Diwali and Chhath around the corner, millions of passengers are set to crowd railway stations across the country. To keep that movement safe and orderly, Government Railway Police (GRP) chiefs from various states and Union Territories met in New Delhi to plan for the festive rush, according to an official statement on Saturday.

The 8th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs, convened by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), brought together officials to discuss emerging security challenges, share best practices and strengthen coordination among the RPF, GRP and state police.

Who Attended

The high-level conference was presided over by Director General, RPF, Sonali Mishra. It was attended by Chairman and CEO, Railway Board, Satish Kumar, members of the Railway Board, and GRP chiefs from different states and UTs.

Delhi's Crowd-Management Model

Northern Railway's Delhi Division presented its coordinated approach with Delhi Police, GRP and Delhi Metro authorities. The arrangements include CCTV surveillance, public announcements, barricading, designated holding areas and dedicated control rooms.

"Emphasis was laid on advance planning, efficient passenger-flow management and coordinated deployment of security personnel to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement during peak periods," the Railways Ministry said.

Why It Matters

The weeks around Diwali and Chhath see some of the heaviest passenger traffic of the year, especially on routes to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and eastern India. Overcrowded platforms and rush at train doors make planning essential. Holding areas, real-time monitoring and joint deployment across agencies can help avoid dangerous crowding at major stations.

RailMadad Gets a GRP Boost

A key highlight was the onboarding of GRP personnel onto the RailMadad platform by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). The move aims to improve passenger grievance redressal, timely information sharing and complaint monitoring.

For passengers, this could mean quicker responses to complaints involving theft, harassment or other crimes, since GRP handles law and order matters on trains and at stations.

Pink Patrol: Drones and Women-Led Response

South Central Railway showcased its "Pink Patrol: Eyes in the Sky, SHAKTI on the Ground" initiative. The women-led model combines drone-assisted surveillance with rapid-response teams under the SHAKTI framework, offering an added layer of safety for women travellers.

Stone-Pelting Flagged as a Concern

Stone-pelting on trains was also discussed as a serious challenge. "Stone-pelting on trains was highlighted as a challenge, with emphasis on hotspot-based patrolling, enhanced surveillance, strict action against offenders, youth outreach and stronger RPF-GRP coordination. Community awareness and preventive engagement were recognised as important deterrents," the statement said.

Project DISHA: Reaching Children Near Tracks

Central Railway's Pune Division presented Project DISHA (Dedicated Initiative for Safety, Harmony & Awareness). It engages children living near railway tracks through educational and recreational activities, safety awareness sessions and community interventions.

Working with NGOs, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers and local communities, the project builds awareness about railway safety while discouraging stone-pelting, theft, trespassing and other unsafe behaviour.

The Bottom Line

The conference signals a shift from reactive policing to prevention, technology and community engagement. How well these plans work will be tested in the coming weeks, when festive crowds put railway security to its toughest test of the year.