Tea, UPI and first-hand feedback: Inside Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's Anand Vihar station visit

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday reviewed the ground situation at railway stations in the national capital and interacted with passengers at Anand Vihar railway station to seek first-hand feedback on arrangements made for the festive-season rush.

As part of the review, Vaishnaw also monitored the functioning of the war room at Rail Bhawan amid the ongoing festive season, an official statement said.

The minister highlighted the role of AI-based systems, CCTV feeds and real-time data in improving operational efficiency, passenger safety and crowd management, the statement said.

Vaishnaw said Indian Railways had significantly strengthened its festive-season arrangements through improved crowd management, special train services and dedicated passenger holding areas at around 20 stations.

He said more than 18,000 additional special trains were being operated during the festive season this year, compared with around 12,000 last year.

The arrangements also include dedicated ticket counters, multiple scanning facilities to ensure smooth passenger movement and around 700 AI-enabled cameras for enhanced monitoring.

Vaishnaw said preparations for the festive rush began nearly six months in advance, with special attention to the expected surge in passenger movement ahead of Chhath.

During his interaction with passengers at Anand Vihar railway station, the minister spoke to youth, women, children and members of the general public and sought their feedback on the facilities and services provided by Indian Railways.

The purpose of the interaction was to assess the effectiveness of the current railway arrangements on the ground, the statement said.

The minister also halted at a tea stall at the station, had a cup of tea and made the payment through UPI, promoting Digital India.

According to the statement, most passengers expressed appreciation for the continuous improvements and modern upgrades in railway amenities.

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