New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) Indian Railways is developing dedicated passenger holding areas -- Yatri Suvidha Kendras -- at major railway stations across the country to streamline passenger movement and ease congestion during periods of heavy footfall, including the festive season, officials said on Friday.
The Railway Ministry had initially ordered the construction of permanent holding areas at five railway stations across the country after 18 passengers were killed in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, 2025.
The ministry had said that after these five stations, 55 more would be taken up for the creation of permanent holding areas. The holding area at New Delhi Railway Station was the first to become operational in 2025.
“The Yatri Suvidha Kendras (Passenger Holding Areas) are being developed to provide dedicated space for unticketed and waiting passengers, helping decongest station platforms, circulating areas and station approaches during peak passenger movement,” a senior official said.
He added, “The facilities are designed to ensure orderly passenger movement and provide a comfortable waiting environment before passengers enter the station/platform area.”
The holding areas are designed to accommodate passengers before they proceed to the platforms. By providing designated spaces for waiting and ticketing, they aim to reduce congestion on platforms, in circulating areas and at station approaches.
Citing the operational holding area at Udhna in Gujarat as a key example of dedicated passenger facilities, the ministry said that Udhna railway station is an important example of a station equipped with a modern passenger holding area.
“The Udhna Holding Area is especially beneficial for migrant passengers travelling to their hometowns across different parts of the country during the festive season,” the ministry stated.
The holding area at Udhna has a 6,500-square-metre pre-ticketing and ticketing block and a 3,600-square-metre post-ticketing block. Together, the two blocks cover an area of 10,100 square metres.
Officials said the facility is equipped with 10 ticket counters, 120 seats, 55 CCTV cameras, six electronic train display boards, a public announcement system and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Other passenger amenities include 32 high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans, an RO drinking water plant, four water coolers, separate toilet facilities for male and female passengers, a Divyangjan toilet and a baby feeding room, they added.
According to the ministry, “A 'May I Help You' booth and appropriate passenger signage have also been provided. The CCTV network includes video analytics and facial recognition facilities, along with PTZ cameras, to support surveillance and passenger management.”
At Anand Vihar in Delhi, the Yatri Suvidha Kendra has 14 ticket counters, 16 CCTV cameras, four electronic display boards and seating for 20 passengers, officials said.
“The facility also has separate toilet facilities for male and female passengers, a Divyangjan toilet, an RO plant, 11 HVLS fans and a public announcement system,” officials added.
Another operational holding area is located at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. It has five ticket counters, 17 CCTV cameras, an electronic display board and seating for 20 passengers. “Amenities include separate toilets for male and female passengers, a Divyangjan toilet, a baby care room, a 'May I Help You' booth and a public announcement system with 44 speakers,” the ministry said.
The Haridwar holding area, which reflects the city's religious and cultural identity through its architectural design, has 20 ticket counters, 25 CCTV cameras and three electronic display boards.
“It also provides separate toilet facilities for male and female passengers, a Divyangjan toilet, seating for 21 passengers, 21 HVLS fans, Wi-Fi connectivity and an RO drinking water plant,” a senior railway official said.
Meanwhile, work is underway on proposed passenger holding areas at Ujjain, Sehore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh; Nashik Road and Bandra Terminus in Maharashtra; Sabarmati in Gujarat; and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu and Kashmir. These facilities are also expected to include various passenger amenities and crowd management measures.
