Railways to build waiting areas at 60 stations, restrict access to platforms

Union Minister of Railways chairs meeting to improve crowd control at railway stations, implementing permanent waiting areas and access control.

A high-level meeting chaired by Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss crowd control at railway stations was held in New Delhi on Friday (March 7, 2025). 

The meeting followed the stampede at the New Delhi railway station on February 16, which left 18 persons dead and 15 injured. 

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After the meeting, railway officials said it was decided to construct permanent waiting areas outside 60 stations. The decision was taken based on previous experience of creating waiting areas at stations such as New Delhi, Surat Udhna and Patna, which were able to hold large crowds.

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“During the festival season of 2024, waiting areas were created outside stations. Passengers were allowed inside only when the train arrived at the platform. Similar arrangements were made during the Mahakumbh at nine stations of Prayagraj area,” officials who attended the meeting said. 

“Based on the experience at these stations, we have decided to create permanent waiting areas outside 60 stations across the country which periodically see heavy crowds,” officials said. Pilot projects have already been initiated at stations in New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Buxar, Prayagraj, Saharsa and Mumbai.