text: Pilgrims may be allowed to get down at Odha station | Nashik News - Times of India
  Pilgrims may be allowed to get down at Odha station
  Abhilash Botekar / TNN / Updated: May 21, 2014, 05:44 IST
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  NASHIK: The central railway is considering the possibility of using Odha railway station, around 5km from here, as the alighting point for pilgrims, who would be visiting the city during the upcoming Kumbh mela.
  The railways, which had drawn up a plan as per which the goods shed at Nashik Road railway station was to be used as a separate place for departures and platform nos. 1 and 2 for arrivals, has been asked by the district administration and police to make some changes in it to ensure that the pilgrims coming and leaving the city do not clash at any point of time.
  "The railways had planned temporary accommodation for the pilgrims at the railway station. However, they need to plan extensively for every person travelling to and from the city and take into account the security and safety aspect as well. The district and police administrations have asked the railways to chalk up plans accordingly," a police official, who is part of the Kumbh mela committee, said on the condition of anonymity.
  A team of revenue department officials along with the police visited the Nashik Road Railway Station on Monday to take stock of the situation. Senior railway officials were also present on the occasion.
  Railway officials exchanged information about their plans for the mega event on infrastructure development, security threats and safety measures. "We told the officials about the construction and expansion plans that have been undertaken by the railways," railway officials said.
  During the last Kumbh mela in 2003, the railways had used Odha railway station for parking and handling select trains. "However, this time, we are planning to utilise it more by asking the pilgrims to alight here. We are still thinking over it," railway officials said.
  According to the railways, they have some space outside the station where they can hold the crowd before it enters, thereby addressing the safety issue. "But we will require some more holding places in the city area. Open spaces can be converted into makeshift waiting zones. These spaces will act as buffer zones," an official said.
  "We will have to arrange around 40 buses for the passengers of every train," a revenue department official said, adding that the railways would finalise the plan in a month's time and the administration would take measures accordingly.