Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has approved a comprehensive plan to develop 76 passenger holding areas at major railway stations across India. The initiative follows the successful implementation of the holding area at New Delhi Railway Station, which has significantly improved passenger management during peak travel periods.

The proposed holding areas will feature a modular design, customized to suit local conditions at each station. Vaishnaw has instructed that all facilities be completed ahead of the 2026 festival season, ensuring enhanced passenger convenience and better crowd management nationwide.

The New Delhi Railway Station, which served as the model for this initiative, effectively managed the Diwali and Chhath travel rush through its newly constructed Yatri Suvidha Kendra (Permanent Holding Area). Completed within just four months, the facility can accommodate up to 7,000 passengers at a time, offering improved pre-boarding comfort and seamless passenger flow.

The holding area is divided into three functional zones — Ticketing, Post-Ticketing, and Pre-Ticketing — designed to streamline movement and reduce congestion. It is also equipped with 150 toilets each for men and women, ticket counters, automatic ticket vending machines, and free RO drinking water facilities.

Building on this success, the new holding areas across the country aim to enhance the passenger experience, improve station efficiency, and support the Indian Railways’ vision of safe, comfortable, and people-centric infrastructure development.

News source: PIB