Railways Enhance Station Capacity with Tech and Dedicated Spaces

Indian Railways Introduces Crowd Management Measures at Major Stations to Handle Passenger Rush​

New Delhi, March 28: Indian Railways has rolled out a comprehensive set of measures aimed at managing heavy passenger traffic across stations, with a focus on improving safety, streamlining movement, and reducing congestion. The announcement was made by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Rajya Sabha.

Dedicated Waiting Areas Planned at 76 Stations​

In a written reply, the minister stated that permanent passenger waiting areas will be developed at 76 identified railway stations. These spaces are intended to ease overcrowding on platforms, particularly during peak hours.

The waiting areas will include essential amenities such as seating arrangements, drinking water, toilets, ticketing counters, information display systems, and security checks to manage passenger flow efficiently.

New Delhi Station Sets Benchmark with Advanced Facilities​

The waiting area at New Delhi Railway Station has already been commissioned, showcasing a range of upgraded infrastructure. Facilities include additional ticket counters, automatic ticket vending machines, public announcement systems, electronic train information boards, and CCTV surveillance.

Security and convenience measures such as luggage scanners, door frame metal detectors, improved lighting, power backup, RO drinking water systems, and separate toilets for men, women, and persons with disabilities have also been installed.

The minister noted that similar facilities at other stations are currently in various stages of planning and execution.

Access Control System to Regulate Platform Entry​

To streamline passenger movement, Indian Railways will implement a complete access control mechanism. Only passengers with confirmed reserved tickets will be allowed direct entry to platforms.

Passengers without tickets or those on waiting lists will be accommodated in designated waiting areas outside station platforms, helping reduce overcrowding.

Wider Foot Over Bridges to Improve Passenger Flow​

As part of infrastructure upgrades, new designs for wider foot over bridges measuring 12 metres and 6 metres have been developed. These will be installed across stations to facilitate smoother passenger movement and reduce bottlenecks.

AI Surveillance and War Rooms for Real-Time Monitoring​

Indian Railways is also deploying AI-enabled CCTV cameras at stations and surrounding areas to enable real-time monitoring and better crowd management.

Dedicated war rooms will be set up at major stations to ensure coordinated action among different departments during high-traffic situations.

Digital Communication and Staff Identification Enhancements​

To strengthen on-ground operations, new-generation digital communication systems such as walkie-talkies and advanced announcement systems will be introduced at high-footfall stations.

Railway staff and service personnel will be issued QR code-based ID cards for secure and controlled access. New uniforms will also be introduced to make staff easily identifiable, especially during emergencies.

Station Directors to Get Enhanced Powers​

The role of Station Director will be upgraded at major stations, with senior officers being granted financial powers to take immediate decisions on-site.

All departments will report to the Station Director to ensure unified command and efficient coordination.

Additionally, Station Directors will have the authority to regulate ticket sales based on station capacity and train availability, aiming to prevent overcrowding and maintain operational efficiency.