In a significant boost to passenger experience at one of the country's busiest terminals, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw today inspected the newly constructed Yatri Suvidha Kendra (Permanent Holding Area) at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS).
The center is designed to accommodate approximately 7,000 passengers at any given time, dramatically enhancing pre-boarding comfort and flow. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The newly developed state of the art Yatri Suvidha Kendra will provide comfort to passengers during festival season as there is a surge in the passenger volume.
Yatri Suvidha Kendra like this shall be developed at other stations in the country." The new Yatri Suvidha Kendra is strategically divided into three zones to streamline passenger movement, a Ticketing area spanning 2,860 sqm, a Post Ticketing area of 1,150 sqm, and a Pre Ticketing area covering 1,218 sqm.
This spatial separation is designed to reduce congestion and improve passenger comfort across the terminal’s main entrance. Northern Railway has equipped the Kendra with comprehensive, modern amenities to ensure passenger convenience and security.
Key Features:
Ticketing: 22 modern ticketing counters and 25 Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs).
Capacity & Comfort: Seating capacity for 200 passengers and 18 High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) Fans for efficient cooling.
Sanitation & Water: A dedicated toilet block built over 652 sqm, along with an RO-based drinking water system.
Information & Safety: A robust passenger announcement system with 24 speakers, three LED electronic train information displays, and 7 units of modern fire-fighting system.
Security: State-of-the-art security measures including 18 CCTV cameras, 5 luggage scanners, and 5 Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD).
Northern Railway successfully navigated several complex challenges during the construction, including the necessary demolition and shifting of existing structures such as ATMs, a Delhi Police cabin, and hoarding boards.
Furthermore, the sensitive relocation of essential utilities like water lines, drainage systems, and OFC cables was executed without disruption to daily operations. In parallel, an essential infrastructure upgrade was completed with the extension of Foot Over Bridge 1 (FOB 1).
This extension ensures that passengers de-boarding trains at NDLS can now directly exit towards the Metro Station, significantly improving multimodal connectivity and reducing platform congestion.
The Union Minister was accompanied by Shri Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO Railway Board; Shri Ashok Kumar Verma, General Manager Northern Railway, and other senior Railway officials, who provided a detailed briefing on the facility’s planning and execution.
The inspection underscored the Railway Ministry’s commitment to modernizing crucial infrastructure and ensuring world-class facilities for commuters.