New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Indian Railways allocated over Rs 34,000 crore in the last three years for passenger amenities, including expenditure on crowd management at stations to ensure smooth travel, the Parliament was informed on Thursday.

During 2023-24, an amount of Rs 9,392 crore was allocated for enhancing passenger amenities, while another Rs 12,884 crore was earmarked during 2024-25 and as much as Rs 12,018 crore in 2025-26, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

As many as 23 permanent holding areas across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and UP out of the total 76 crowded stations in the country are currently under development. The development is progressing well in heavy footfall stations like Mumbai’s CST and Bandra Terminus, Bhopal, Lucknow, and Varanasi ahead of the festive rush this year. AI-enabled CCTV cameras, advanced digital communication equipment, war room monitoring and control on ticket sales are also being carried out at railway stations and adjoining areas to facilitate close monitoring and effective crowd management, the minister said.

The Ministry of Railways has initiated plans to establish passenger holding areas to decongest the platforms at 76 stations, designed as comfortable, organised spaces with essential amenities such as seating, drinking water, toilets, ticketing facilities, information displays, and security checks to handle peak-hour footfall.

Holding area at the New Delhi Railway Station has already been commissioned, easing congestion and enhancing passenger convenience with facilities like additional ticket counters, ATVMs, PAS, electronic train information boards, CCTV surveillance, luggage scanners, DFMDs, uninterrupted power supply, improved lighting, HVLS fans, fire-fighting and lightning protection systems, RO drinking water, and separate toilets for men, women, and Divyangjans. Similar provisions at other stations are under various stages of planning and execution.

Complete access control is being provided, allowing passengers with confirmed reserved tickets direct entry to the platforms, while those without tickets or holding waiting list tickets will be accommodated in designated outside waiting areas.

Two new designs of 12 metre wide (40 feet) and 6 metre wide (20 feet) standard foot over-bridges have been developed. These wide bridges will be installed in all the stations, the minister added.

–IANS

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