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Railways Greenlights 76 Permanent Passenger Holding Areas Nationwide Before 2026 Festive Season

The directive follows a New Delhi pilot credited with easing festival crowds after a fatal February stampede.

Overview

  • Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw approved the programme and released a list covering 76 stations across all 16 railway zones.
  • Each facility will follow a modular design with seating, toilets, ticketing counters, medical and help booths, drinking water points, train displays, and segregated ticketed and non-ticketed zones.
  • Zonal railways have been instructed to complete construction well before the 2026 festival season to improve safety during peak travel.
  • The New Delhi Yatri Suvidha Kendra, built in four months and designed for about 7,000 passengers across Ticketing, Post-Ticketing and Pre-Ticketing areas, is the template for the rollout.
  • Indian Railways recently operated war rooms and roughly 7,800 extra trains for Diwali and Chhath, while sources indicate some temporary holding areas may become permanent.