The Ministry of Railways has launched a plan to establish dedicated passenger holding areas at 76 major stations across India to tackle heavy passenger rush and decongest platforms. These zones will provide organised spaces with seating, drinking water, toilets, ticketing facilities, information displays and security checks to manage peak-hour footfall. A model holding area at New Delhi Railway Station has been commissioned and has eased congestion.

The commissioned facility has additional ticket counters, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines, public address systems and electronic information boards, and is equipped with CCTV, luggage scanners, metal detectors, uninterrupted power, improved lighting, high volume low speed fans and fire-fighting systems. Amenities also include RO drinking water and separate toilets for men, women and Divyangjans. Similar provisions are being planned or executed at other stations with timelines to be optimised.

Under a new access control protocol, passengers with confirmed reserved tickets will gain direct entry to platforms while those without a ticket or on a waiting list will be accommodated in holding areas until travel status is verified or space permits. Foot-over-bridges have been standardised in two designs of 12 metres and six metres to facilitate movement. Safety will be strengthened through installation of artificial intelligence enabled CCTV cameras for real time crowd monitoring and management.

Operational coordination will be enhanced by war rooms at major stations where officers from all departments will work together, supported by the rollout of the latest digital communication equipment including advanced walkie-talkies and announcement systems. Staff and service personnel will receive QR-based identity cards and new uniforms for easy identification during crises, and the post of Station Director will be upgraded with financial powers to take on the spot decisions and lead a unified command with authority to regulate ticket sales based on station capacity. The Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, provided these details in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.