Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, March 11: In a bold move to tackle overcrowding, Indian Railways has introduced a pilot scheme that bans waiting list passengers from boarding trains or even entering railway stations. This comes as the railways struggles to meet the soaring demand for confirmed tickets, especially in sleeper and general classes, on India’s busiest routes.

With over 12,000 trains running daily and millions of passengers relying on the system, securing a confirmed ticket has become a major challenge. The chaos witnessed during the recent Kumbh Mela, where passengers faced extreme difficulties, highlighted the need for urgent action.

Representational image

Under the new directive, only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed entry into 60 major railway stations across the country. Stations like New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Patna, and others are already enforcing this rule.

The policy will also apply to some of the busiest hubs, including New Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai), Howrah Junction (Kolkata), Chennai Central (Chennai), and Bengaluru City Railway Station (Bengaluru).

Passengers with waiting list tickets attempting to board trains from these stations will be turned away and asked to return home. Indian Railways has said the new measure is essential to prevent overcrowding and ensure passenger safety, particularly at high-traffic stations during peak travel times.

The move is part of a larger effort by Indian Railways to better manage the growing demand for tickets and reduce chaos at major stations, especially during busy seasons and events where overcrowding poses significant risks.