Advertisement
The Ministry of Railways has approved a plan to create passenger-holding zones at 76 major stations across India, including five key railway terminals in Mumbai. These facilities will be developed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus. The move follows the successful trial of a similar model at New Delhi station during the festive rush, aimed at easing overcrowding, improving passenger flow and enhancing comfort. The Mumbai projects are expected to be completed before the next festive season.
The Ministry of Railways has cleared a proposal to build dedicated passenger-holding areas at 76 important stations nationwide to regulate crowd movement and reduce congestion during high-traffic periods. In Mumbai, the plan covers five key railway terminals Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus. Advertisement
The initiative is based on the successful model used recently at New Delhi railway station during the festive rush. There, a holding area of about 6,000 sq m was developed within four months to manage heavy passenger flow. It was divided into three sections pre-ticketing, ticketing and departure and included waiting spaces, washrooms, medical assistance booths and facilities for differently-abled passengers. Officials noted that this setup helped manage thousands of travellers daily without overcrowding platforms.
For Mumbai, railway officials have decided to adapt the model to local conditions. Each terminal will have a modular, permanent structure where passengers can assemble before boarding. The holding areas will serve as organized waiting spaces, helping passengers enter platforms in smaller batches to maintain order and safety. These zones will also feature amenities such as drinking water points, rest areas, public information displays and improved sanitation facilities.
This year, Central Railway set up temporary facilities to handle festive crowds, with a 1,200 sq m area at CSMT and a 10,000 sq m setup at LTT. Together, these spaces accommodated about 11,500 passengers daily. During the Diwali-Chhath period alone, more than 100,000 passengers travelled every day from Mumbai to states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar through over 50 long-distance trains operated by Central and Western Railway. To meet the high demand, Central Railway also added six special trains to its 40 regular services.
The Railway Minister has instructed that the new holding zones be ready well before the 2026 festive season so that they can be used for next year's festival travel. Once completed, these areas will remain as permanent infrastructure to manage future crowd surges at Mumbai's busiest stations.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
