In a major initiative to improve crowd management, the Union Ministry of Railways has approved the creation of permanent waiting areas outside 60 key railway stations across India. This move aims to control surges in passenger flow and enhance station efficiency, particularly during peak travel seasons.

The decision was made on Friday during a high-level meeting chaired by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, following the tragic February 15 stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that resulted in 18 casualties. The meeting also sanctioned several key safety measures, including: Wider Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) for smoother passenger movement War rooms for real-time crowd monitoring Advanced communication tools to improve passenger safety

A Controlled Approach to Managing Passenger Flow The newly designated waiting areas will serve as holding zones for passengers, ensuring they only enter platforms once their trains arrive. This approach, tested as a pilot project at stations including New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna during the 2024 festive season, proved to be highly effective in reducing overcrowding.

To further streamline station access, the Railways will implement strict entry regulations: Only passengers with confirmed reserved tickets will be permitted onto platforms Passengers with unreserved or waiting-list tickets must remain in the external waiting zones Unauthorised access points will be sealed to prevent overcrowding

The official list of 60 railway stations selected for this initiative is yet to be disclosed.

Enhancing Safety & Efficiency at Major Stations In addition to crowd control measures, Indian Railways is undertaking a series of infrastructure and operational improvements: Senior officers to be deployed as Station Directors at key railway hubs, with financial autonomy to make immediate improvements Ticket sales regulation based on station capacity and available train services Installation of standardised Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) –– 12 metres and 6 metres wide –– similar to those successfully used for crowd management at Maha Kumbh Enhanced surveillance with a significant increase in CCTV cameras for real-time monitoring Dedicated war rooms to enable multi-department coordination for crowd control Upgraded communication systems, including modern walkie-talkies, public announcement systems, and calling networks

Additionally, railway staff and service personnel will be issued newly designed identity cards, ensuring that only authorised personnel have access during emergencies.

A Response to Overcrowding Incidents This initiative comes in the wake of the February 15 stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, where thousands of passengers gathered to board three Prayagraj-bound trains for the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage. A build-up at Platform 14, compounded by delays in the Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, resulted in the fatal tragedy.

By implementing these proactive measures, Indian Railways aims to prevent such incidents in the future while ensuring a smoother, safer, and more efficient travel experience for millions of passengers across the country.