Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Saturday inspected the newly built Yatri Suvidha Kendra at New Delhi Railway Station ahead of the busy festive season. The facility, designed to hold around 7,000 passengers at a time, aims to improve pre-boarding comfort and streamline passenger flow.
Passenger Comfort and Modern Amenities
The Yatri Suvidha Kendra is equipped with 22 modern ticket counters, 25 Automatic Ticket Vending Machines, seating for 200 passengers, 18 high-volume low-speed fans, a 652 sqm toilet block, RO drinking water, 24 announcement speakers, 3 LED train information displays, 7 advanced fire-fighting units, 18 CCTV cameras, 5 luggage scanners, and 5 metal detectors.
Three-Zone Layout to Reduce Congestion
The facility is divided into three zones: a Ticketing Area (2,860 sqm), a Post-Ticketing Area (1,150 sqm), and a Pre-Ticketing Area (1,218 sqm). This layout is designed to manage crowd movement efficiently, especially during peak festival travel periods.
Improved Ticketing and Cybersecurity Measures
Vaishnaw highlighted that ticket counters have been upgraded and systems will be tested during festival surges. Officials are also ensuring proper cybersecurity measures to prevent misuse of automated booking systems.
Foot Over Bridge Extension for Better Connectivity
As part of modernization, Foot Over Bridge 1 has been extended to allow passengers exiting the station to directly access the New Delhi Metro Station, reducing platform congestion and enhancing multi-modal connectivity.
Special Trains and Increased Capacity
For the upcoming Chhath and Diwali festivals, around 12,000 special trains are planned across the country. The Northern Railway has also laid 34,000 km of new tracks and expanded overall railway capacity, ensuring smooth travel during peak periods.
Government Plans Expansion Nationwide
Vaishnaw stated that similar Yatri Suvidha Kendras will be developed at other stations based on learnings from the New Delhi facility, reinforcing Indian Railways’ focus on passenger-centric design and convenience during high-traffic periods.
