New Delhi: Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, who oversees Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, has given the green light for the development of 76 passenger holding areas at various railway stations nationwide.
This initiative stems from the successful implementation of a similar facility at New Delhi Railway Station. The stations included under the East Coast Railways for this development are Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Vishakhapatnam.
The newly planned holding areas will adopt a modular design and will be constructed with consideration for local conditions. The Minister has mandated that all these areas must be finished well in advance of the 2026 festival season.
The holding area at the New Delhi Railway Station proved effective in managing the significant passenger congestion during the Diwali and Chhath festivals. Completed in just four months, this Yatri Suvidha Kendra (Permanent Holding Area) is designed to accommodate about 7,000 passengers simultaneously, greatly improving pre-boarding comfort and managing passenger traffic.
It is strategically sectioned into three zones: Ticketing, Post-Ticketing, and Pre-Ticketing, to ensure smooth passenger flow. The facility for over 7,000 passengers is equipped with 150 toilets each for men and women, ticket counters, automatic ticket vending machines, and free RO water services.