Railways to Establish Waiting Areas at 60 Major Stations to Ease Congestion
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Railways to Establish Waiting Areas at 60 Major Stations to Ease Congestion

In a bid to enhance passenger safety and streamline crowd management, the Union Railways Ministry has approved the creation of permanent waiting areas outside 60 major railway stations across the country. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, as per an official statement.

The move follows the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, which resulted in 18 casualties. The initiative aims to control periodic passenger surges, with waiting areas designed to hold large crowds outside stations. Passengers will only be permitted onto platforms once their trains arrive. However, the list of selected stations is yet to be disclosed.

Key Measures for Crowd Control and Station Management The waiting area initiative was first tested as a pilot project at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna stations during the 2024 festive season. To further tighten security and improve crowd control, additional measures have been approved:

Access control at selected stations, allowing entry only to passengers with confirmed reserved tickets. Closure of unauthorised entry points to prevent uncontrolled access. Deployment of senior officers as station directors, granting them financial autonomy to make immediate decisions for station improvements. Regulation of ticket sales based on station capacity and train availability. Infrastructure and Security Enhancements To support the new waiting areas, the Railways will install wider Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), based on new design specifications:

12-metre-wide FOBs for high-traffic stations 6-metre-wide FOBs for medium-traffic stations These FOBs, featuring ramps, proved highly effective in crowd management during Maha Kumbh. Additionally, station security will be upgraded with:

Enhanced CCTV surveillance for real-time monitoring. Dedicated war rooms at large stations, enabling officers from multiple departments to coordinate crowd control efforts. Modernised communication tools, including walkie-talkies, public announcement systems, and upgraded calling networks. Newly designed identity cards for railway personnel to prevent unauthorised access during emergencies. Addressing Recent Overcrowding Incidents The initiative comes in response to overcrowding concerns, particularly following the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15. The incident occurred when thousands of passengers gathered to board three Prayagraj-bound trains for the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage, leading to a dangerous buildup on platform 14. Delays in two other Prayagraj-bound trains further exacerbated the situation, resulting in chaos.

By implementing structured waiting areas, access control, and enhanced security measures, the Indian Railways aims to prevent such incidents, ensuring a safer and more organised passenger experience.

In a bid to enhance passenger safety and streamline crowd management, the Union Railways Ministry has approved the creation of permanent waiting areas outside 60 major railway stations across the country. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, as per an official statement. The move follows the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, which resulted in 18 casualties. The initiative aims to control periodic passenger surges, with waiting areas designed to hold large crowds outside stations. Passengers will only be permitted onto platforms once their trains arrive. However, the list of selected stations is yet to be disclosed. Key Measures for Crowd Control and Station Management The waiting area initiative was first tested as a pilot project at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna stations during the 2024 festive season. To further tighten security and improve crowd control, additional measures have been approved: Access control at selected stations, allowing entry only to passengers with confirmed reserved tickets. Closure of unauthorised entry points to prevent uncontrolled access. Deployment of senior officers as station directors, granting them financial autonomy to make immediate decisions for station improvements. Regulation of ticket sales based on station capacity and train availability. Infrastructure and Security Enhancements To support the new waiting areas, the Railways will install wider Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), based on new design specifications: 12-metre-wide FOBs for high-traffic stations 6-metre-wide FOBs for medium-traffic stations These FOBs, featuring ramps, proved highly effective in crowd management during Maha Kumbh. Additionally, station security will be upgraded with: Enhanced CCTV surveillance for real-time monitoring. Dedicated war rooms at large stations, enabling officers from multiple departments to coordinate crowd control efforts. Modernised communication tools, including walkie-talkies, public announcement systems, and upgraded calling networks. Newly designed identity cards for railway personnel to prevent unauthorised access during emergencies. Addressing Recent Overcrowding Incidents The initiative comes in response to overcrowding concerns, particularly following the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15. The incident occurred when thousands of passengers gathered to board three Prayagraj-bound trains for the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage, leading to a dangerous buildup on platform 14. Delays in two other Prayagraj-bound trains further exacerbated the situation, resulting in chaos. By implementing structured waiting areas, access control, and enhanced security measures, the Indian Railways aims to prevent such incidents, ensuring a safer and more organised passenger experience.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Next Story
Technology

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?