Ashwini Vaishnaw Clears Plan for 76 Passenger Holding Areas Nationwide

04 Nov 2025 CW Team

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

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

CFI Appoints New National Council for FY27 and FY28

The Construction Federation of India (CFI) has announced its newly elected National Council and office bearers for a two-year term covering FY27 and FY28. M. V. Satish, Advisor to CMD and Lead Ambassador for Middle East, L&T, has been elected President; Priti Patel, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Tata Projects, has been appointed Vice President; and Ajit Bhate, Managing Director, Precast India Infrastructures, has taken charge as Treasurer.The newly formed National Council brings together senior leaders from major EPC and infrastructure companies, reflecting CFI’s continued focus o..

India REIT Market Gains Momentum with Strong Returns

India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market is witnessing strong growth, emerging as a competitive investment avenue both domestically and across Asia. According to a recent ANAROCK report released at EXCELERATE 2026 by NAREDCO Maharashtra NextGen, the sector is evolving into a mature asset class driven by solid fundamentals, regulatory backing and rising investor confidence.The introduction of Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs) in 2025 has further widened access through fractional ownership, unlocking a potential monetisation opportunity of Rs 670–710 billion. Indian REITs have deli..

G R Infraprojects Secures Rs 4,130 Million BESS Contract From NTPC

G R Infraprojects said it has secured a contract from NTPC to supply and implement a battery energy storage system (BESS) valued at Rs 4,130 million (mn). The company reported the order was awarded as part of NTPC's ongoing efforts to enhance grid flexibility and energy storage capacity. The contract represents a notable addition to the firm's project pipeline and underscores demand for utility scale storage solutions. The award is expected to strengthen G R Infraprojects' presence in the energy infrastructure sector and to contribute to the firm's order book and future revenues, subject to st..