Indian Railways has announced a major upgrade to passenger crowd management across 76 stations to reduce platform congestion and enhance safety during peak travel periods. The programme will introduce dedicated holding areas, comprehensive access control and AI-enabled surveillance as part of a coordinated operational strategy. The announcement was made in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Railway Minister.

Permanent passenger holding areas will be developed at 76 identified stations to serve as pre-entry waiting spaces with seating, drinking water, toilets and ticket counters. These zones will include information displays and security screening systems and will be equipped to handle large volumes of travellers. A pilot scheme at New Delhi Railway Station already features automatic ticket vending machines, CCTV, luggage scanners and electronic train information boards alongside improved passenger amenities.

To streamline passenger flow, complete access control will be implemented at high-footfall stations so that only passengers with confirmed reserved tickets are allowed direct platform access. Waiting list and unreserved travellers will be directed to holding areas until entry is permitted. Officials will be empowered to regulate ticket sales based on station capacity and train availability to prevent overcrowding.

AI-enabled CCTV cameras are being deployed for real-time monitoring of crowd movement and analytics will inform operational responses. Dedicated control rooms referred to as war rooms will coordinate actions across departments during peak rush situations. Enhanced digital communication systems, including advanced announcement networks and walkie-talkies, will support faster mobilisation and incident management.

Infrastructure upgrades will include wider foot-over-bridges measuring 12 metres and six metres to improve passenger dispersal and reduce bottlenecks. Station Directors at major hubs will receive greater financial and administrative authority and all departments operating at stations will report to the Station Director to create a unified command structure. The modernisation effort is intended to improve safety, efficiency and the overall passenger experience across India’s busiest railway stations.