Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the progress of Yatri Suvidha Kendra (passenger holding area) projects at Anand Vihar Terminal and Udhna Railway Station from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, with Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna also present. The review focused on expediting ongoing works, addressing site challenges, and ensuring timely completion before the forthcoming major festival rush to provide safer and more organized passenger-centric arrangements.
The Yatri Suvidha Kendras are being developed to provide dedicated space for unticketed and waiting passengers, helping decongest station platforms, circulating areas, and station approaches during peak passenger movement. The facilities will include spacious covered waiting and seating areas, dedicated ticketing facilities, separate toilets and washrooms for men and women, drinking water, public address and passenger information systems, CCTV surveillance, security arrangements, adequate lighting, electrical and S&T facilities, display boards, signage, organized passenger circulation, and furniture.
At Anand Vihar Terminal, the facility is being developed in two phases. Phase-I will provide organized space for approximately 4,000 passengers, with work on foundations, plinth beams, structural steel fabrication, and other associated activities progressing at a fast pace. Phase-II will further strengthen passenger-handling capacity to accommodate around 7,000 passengers upon completion.
At Udhna Railway Station, the Yatri Suvidha Kendra is planned to accommodate around 15,000 passengers at a time, with significant progress already achieved at the site. After completion, the station will provide improved connectivity between the holding area and platforms, supporting orderly passenger movement and better management of passenger flows within the station premises.
These initiatives reflect Indian Railways' focus on upgrading passenger infrastructure at major stations through improved facilities, technology, and organized passenger management to handle large passenger gatherings safely and comfortably while reducing congestion during peak travel periods.