Lok Sabha Question No. 4356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Introduction of Controlled Access System in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4356

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## INTRODUCTION OF CONTROLLED ACCESS SYSTEM IN RAILWAYS

## 4356. SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  introduce  a  controlled access system in Railways similar to metro rail networks;
- (b)
- if so, the steps taken towards its feasibility and implementation;
- (c) whether any pilot projects for controlled access have been initiated;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, Railway zone-wise; and
- (e) the measures being planned to improve crowd management at major railway stations during peak hours and festival seasons?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e): With a view to handle heavy rush of passengers at stations during festival/Mela periods, limited Access Control System has been experimented  by  the  Railways  where  during  such  periods,  holding  areas were created outside stations and passengers were allowed only when the train came to the platform.

Further, to handle heavy rush of passengers at stations, following decisions have been taken by railways -

1. Permanent holding areas at 60 stations:
- i. During the festival season of 2024, holding areas were created outside stations. These waiting areas were able to hold large crowds at Surat,
3. Udhna, Patna and New Delhi. Passengers were allowed only when the train came to the platform.
- ii. Similar arrangements were made during Mahakumbh at nine stations of Prayag area.
- iii. Based  on  the  experience  of  these  stations,  it  has  been  decided  to create permanent waiting areas outside stations at 60 stations across the country, which periodically face heavy crowds.
- iv. Pilot  projects  have  started  at  New  Delhi,  Anand  Vihar,  Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Ghaziabad stations.
- v. With  this  concept,  the  sudden  crowd  will  be  contained  within  the waiting area. Passengers will be allowed to go to platforms only when the trains arrive at the platform. This will decongest the stations.
2. Access control:
- i. Complete access control will be initiated at the 60 stations.
- ii. Passengers with confirmed reserve tickets will be given direct access to the platforms.
- iii. Passengers without a ticket or with a waiting list ticket will wait in the outside waiting area.
12. iv.
13. All unauthorised entry points will be sealed.
3. Wider foot-over-bridges (FOB):
- i. Two new designs of 12 metre wide (40 feet) and 6 metre wide (20 feet) standard  FOB  have  been  developed.  These  wide  FOBs  with  ramps were very effective in crowd management during Mahakumbh. These new standard wide FOBs will be installed in all the stations.
4. Cameras:
- i. Cameras helped crowd management in a big way during Mahakumbh. A  large  number  of  cameras  will  be  installed  in  all  stations  and adjoining areas for close monitoring.
5. War rooms:
- i. War  rooms  at  large stations will be developed. Officers of all departments will work in the war room during crowd situations.
20. 6.
21. New generation communication equipment:
- i. Latest  design  digital  communication  equipment  like  walkie-talkies, announcement systems, calling systems will be installed on all heavy crowd stations.
7. New design ID card:
- i. All staff and service persons will be given a new design ID card so that only authorised persons can enter the station.
8. New design uniform for staff:
- i. All staff members will be given new design uniforms so that they can be easily identified during a crisis situation.
9. Upgradation of station director post:
- i. All  major  stations  will  have  a  senior  officer  as  station  director.  All other departments will report to the station director.
- ii. Station director  will  get  financial  empowerment so  that he  can  take on- the-spot decisions for improving the station.
10. Sale of tickets as per capacity:
- i. Station  Director  will  be  empowered  to  control  the  sale  of  tickets  as per capacity of the station and the available trains.

In addition, for the security arrangements and to streamline passenger flow, station specific plans are made involving all the stakeholders that include Government Railway Police (GRP), Local Police and Local Civil Administration  and  accordingly  action  is  taken  to  manage  the  influx  of passengers.  Queue  System  is  maintained  for  hassle  free  boarding  of important trains at originating stations.

GRP  &  RPF  staffs  are  deployed  at  foot-over  bridges  to  regulate  crowd smoothly  in  order  to  avoid  stampede  like  situation  during  the  heavy  rush period  and  render  real  time  assistance  to  passengers.  Intelligence  units (CIB/SIB)  and  plain  cloth  staff  are  deployed  for  collection  of  information about rush and accordingly arrangements were made associating GRP/Police.

During peak rush periods, when  heavy movement  of passengers is anticipated,  zonal  Railways  are  authorized  to  restrict  entry  to  stations  by stopping  issuing  of  platform  tickets  except  for  persons  coming  to  the station just to assist the aged, illiterate and female passengers who are not in a position to fend themselves at Railway stations.

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