<p>New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that the railways gives the most priority to passenger safety and it is creating more facilities for travellers' needs. </p><p>The minister, who inspected a newly-constructed permanent holding area for passengers at the New Delhi railway station, told media that since Indian Railways is the primary mode of transportation for the low and middle-income groups, efforts are being made to increase facilities for them while ensuring safety of all passengers.</p><p>Named Yatri Suvidha Kendra, the permanent holding area is designed to accommodate approximately 7,000 passengers at any given time, enhancing pre-boarding comfort and flow.</p>.Change in travel plans? Indian Railways to allow passengers revise trip dates on confirmed tickets.<p>"The newly-developed, state-of-the-art Yatri Suvidha Kendra will provide comfort to passengers during the festival season when passenger volume surges. Like New Delhi, Yatri Suvidha Kendras will be developed at other stations in the country," Vaishnaw said.</p><p>The railway ministry had ordered the construction of permanent holding areas at five railway stations across the country after 18 passengers were killed in a stampede at the New Delhi railway station on February 15, 2025.</p><p>In addition to the New Delhi railway station, the other four stations are Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi and Ayodhya. The ministry had said that after these five stations, 55 more will be taken up for the creation of permanent holding areas.</p><p>According to a press statement issued by the railway ministry, key features of the Yatri Suvidha Kendra in New Delhi include 22 modern ticketing counters and 25 automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs); seating capacity for 200 passengers and 18 high-volume low speed (HVLS) fans for efficient cooling; and a dedicated toilet block built over 652 sq mt, along with an RO-based drinking water system.</p><p>"Our efforts are focused on increasing facilities in general class coaches and introducing more and more Amrit Bharat trains," Vaishnaw said.</p><p>Talking about special trains being operated during this festive season, the minister said arrangements have been made to run a record number of trains during the Diwali and Chhath festivals.</p><p>According to the railway minister, out of over 12,000 trains the ministry plans to run during this festive season, 10,700 have already been notified.</p><p>"Additionally, 150 trains, capable of making 2,000 trips during the festive season, have been kept for unreserved operation. So, more than 12,000 trains will run this festive season from various parts of the country to ensure hassle-free travel," Vaishnaw said.</p><p>"At present, 1,30,000 candidates are in the process of joining various railway zones. Recently, 18,000 assistant loco pilots were recruited," he added.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that the railways gives the most priority to passenger safety and it is creating more facilities for travellers' needs. </p><p>The minister, who inspected a newly-constructed permanent holding area for passengers at the New Delhi railway station, told media that since Indian Railways is the primary mode of transportation for the low and middle-income groups, efforts are being made to increase facilities for them while ensuring safety of all passengers.</p><p>Named Yatri Suvidha Kendra, the permanent holding area is designed to accommodate approximately 7,000 passengers at any given time, enhancing pre-boarding comfort and flow.</p>.Change in travel plans? Indian Railways to allow passengers revise trip dates on confirmed tickets.<p>"The newly-developed, state-of-the-art Yatri Suvidha Kendra will provide comfort to passengers during the festival season when passenger volume surges. Like New Delhi, Yatri Suvidha Kendras will be developed at other stations in the country," Vaishnaw said.</p><p>The railway ministry had ordered the construction of permanent holding areas at five railway stations across the country after 18 passengers were killed in a stampede at the New Delhi railway station on February 15, 2025.</p><p>In addition to the New Delhi railway station, the other four stations are Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi and Ayodhya. The ministry had said that after these five stations, 55 more will be taken up for the creation of permanent holding areas.</p><p>According to a press statement issued by the railway ministry, key features of the Yatri Suvidha Kendra in New Delhi include 22 modern ticketing counters and 25 automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs); seating capacity for 200 passengers and 18 high-volume low speed (HVLS) fans for efficient cooling; and a dedicated toilet block built over 652 sq mt, along with an RO-based drinking water system.</p><p>"Our efforts are focused on increasing facilities in general class coaches and introducing more and more Amrit Bharat trains," Vaishnaw said.</p><p>Talking about special trains being operated during this festive season, the minister said arrangements have been made to run a record number of trains during the Diwali and Chhath festivals.</p><p>According to the railway minister, out of over 12,000 trains the ministry plans to run during this festive season, 10,700 have already been notified.</p><p>"Additionally, 150 trains, capable of making 2,000 trips during the festive season, have been kept for unreserved operation. So, more than 12,000 trains will run this festive season from various parts of the country to ensure hassle-free travel," Vaishnaw said.</p><p>"At present, 1,30,000 candidates are in the process of joining various railway zones. Recently, 18,000 assistant loco pilots were recruited," he added.</p>
