Railway Ministry has approved the creation of permanent passenger holding areas at five of Mumbai’s busiest railway terminals — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mumbai Central, and Bandra Terminus. The initiative follows the success of a similar model implemented at New Delhi railway station, which significantly reduced congestion during peak festive travel.
Officials confirmed that the Mumbai project is part of a nationwide plan covering 76 key stations under the Central and Western Railway zones. The holding areas will be built as modular, permanent structures designed to manage pre-boarding crowds more efficiently and reduce platform overcrowding during heavy travel periods. According to senior railway officials, the design of these spaces will draw from Delhi’s 6,000-square-metre facility, which includes separate zones for pre-ticketing, ticketing, and departure, along with amenities such as toilets, medical booths, and accessible features for differently-abled passengers. However, considering Mumbai’s space constraints and higher footfall, the layouts will be adapted to local conditions.
The initiative comes in response to increasing passenger volumes, particularly during festive seasons, when over one lakh travellers board long-distance trains daily from Mumbai to northern states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. To handle last season’s surge, Central Railway had temporarily set up holding areas at CSMT and LTT, accommodating 1,500 and 10,000 passengers respectively. Officials said the new structures will be owned and operated by the Railways and function as pre-boarding waiting zones. These areas will allow passengers to be admitted onto platforms in regulated batches, thereby reducing chaos and improving safety standards. The holding areas are also expected to provide cleaner, more comfortable environments equipped with sustainable materials, LED lighting, and energy-efficient ventilation systems — aligning with India’s net-zero and inclusive infrastructure goals.
Railway officials confirmed that the project will be fast-tracked and completed well before the 2026 festive season. The aim is to ensure that the new passenger holding areas are operational by next year, providing relief to both daily commuters and long-distance travellers. The move marks a significant step towards building a more organised, accessible, and sustainable rail travel experience in Mumbai. Once implemented, it is expected to serve as a model for other urban centres across India facing similar crowd management challenges.
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