New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) The Indian Railways has invested more than Rs 34,000 crore over the past three years to improve passenger amenities, which includes funds allocated for effective crowd management at railway stations to facilitate a seamless travel experience, as disclosed in Parliament on Thursday.

For the fiscal year 2023-24, a sum of Rs 9,392 crore has been designated for upgrading passenger facilities. Additionally, Rs 12,884 crore is assigned for 2024-25, and Rs 12,018 crore for 2025-26, as revealed by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written response during the Lok Sabha session.

Currently, 23 permanent holding areas are being developed across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh among the total of 76 congested stations nationwide. The work is advancing rapidly at high-traffic stations like Mumbai’s CST and Bandra Terminus, as well as Bhopal, Lucknow, and Varanasi in preparation for the festive season this year. The implementation of AI-powered CCTV, sophisticated digital communication tools, and comprehensive monitoring systems for ticket sales is also underway to support effective crowd management, according to the minister.

The Ministry of Railways is also in the process of creating designated passenger holding areas to alleviate congestion on platforms at 76 stations. These areas will be designed for comfort and organization, equipped with essential amenities such as seating, drinking water, restroom facilities, ticketing options, information displays, and security checks to accommodate peak-hour traffic.

The recently established holding area at New Delhi Railway Station has already been put into operation, significantly reducing congestion while improving passenger convenience. This facility includes additional ticket counters, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), Passenger Alert Systems (PAS), electronic display boards for train information, CCTV monitoring, luggage scanning stations, and uninterrupted power supply, along with enhanced lighting, HVLS fans, fire safety measures, and drinking water facilities. Separate restrooms for men, women, and individuals with disabilities (Divyangjans) are also part of the provisions at this station, with plans for similar arrangements at others currently in various stages of development.

Access control measures are being implemented, granting direct platform entry to passengers with confirmed tickets, while those without tickets or who are on waiting lists will be directed to designated waiting areas outside.

Furthermore, two new designs for standard foot over-bridges, measuring 12 meters (40 feet) and 6 meters (20 feet) in width, have been created for installation across all stations, as stated by the minister.