Home India Ministry of Railways Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Reviews Passenger Amenities ...
Date: 2026-03-20 Category: Press Release State: Union Government Country: India

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Reviews Passenger Amenities and Security with Officials; Directs Time-Bound Implementation of Access Control and AI-Driven Reforms

Issued by Ministry of Railways · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed progress on station access, security, and passenger amenities, directing the time-bound implementation of AI-driven reforms and access control systems. Initially piloting at New Delhi Railway Station, these measures aim to streamline movement ahead of the Diwali and Chhath festival rush. Key initiatives include a QR code-based entry system, 24/7 AI-powered surveillance, and mandatory identification protocols for all station personnel. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Technological Surveillance and Security** * Deployment of a comprehensive AI-powered camera network at New Delhi Railway Station for 24/7 surveillance of platforms, concourses, and entry points. * Establishment of an Exception Event Display-based control room to provide real-time alerts for unusual or unsafe events. * Shift in Railway Protection Force (RPF) operations from manual checking to surveillance-based monitoring. * **Staff Accountability and Identification** * Mandatory use of colour-coded fluorescent jackets for all personnel: one colour for Railway employees and another for non-employees (vendors, contractual staff, IRCTC personnel). * Compulsory issuance of detailed ID cards to all workers to ensure swift identification and passenger trust. * This identification system will be replicated across all North Zone stations following the New Delhi pilot. * **Access Control and Crowd Management** * Introduction of a pilot QR code-based entry management system at New Delhi Railway Station to regulate access for Reserved, Unreserved, and Monthly Season Ticket holders. * Upgrading of designated holding areas across 76 railway stations to manage unreserved travellers and prevent concourse overcrowding. * Improvement of signage clarity and train information services to keep passengers informed while in waiting areas. * **Digital Integration and Mobility** * Integration of the RailOne App with Bharat Taxi (a cooperative-led ride-hailing platform) to provide seamless last-mile connectivity. * Focus on reducing chaos outside station premises through transparent and reliable transport options developed in collaboration with RailTel. **Impact Analysis** **Railway and Non-Railway Staff (Vendors, IRCTC, Contractual Workers)** **Impact:** Increased accountability and easier identification by security authorities and passengers. **Action Required:** Must wear designated colour-coded fluorescent jackets and carry comprehensive ID cards at all times within station premises. **Passengers (Reserved, Unreserved, and MST Holders)** **Impact:** Enhanced safety through AI surveillance and a more organized entry process during peak festival periods. **Action Required:** Use the QR code-based system for station entry at New Delhi and utilize the integrated RailOne App for last-mile taxi bookings. **Railway Protection Force (RPF)** **Impact:** Modernization of security protocols and reduced reliance on manual checkpoints. **Action Required:** Transition to surveillance-based monitoring and ensure only ticketed passengers access the station premises. **Ministry of Railways and RailTel** **Impact:** Scaling of technology-driven reforms and transport integrations across the network. **Action Required:** Monitor the New Delhi pilot program for lessons learned and implement the identification and access reforms progressively across the North Zone and other regions.

Key Entities Referenced

New Delhi Railway Station: The primary pilot location for implementing AI-powered surveillance, QR code-based access control, and staff identification reforms. RailOne App: A digital platform being integrated with ride-hailing services to provide passengers with seamless last-mile connectivity. Bharat Taxi: A cooperative-led ride-hailing platform partnering with Indian Railways to provide integrated transport solutions for passengers. Railway Protection Force (RPF): The security agency tasked with transitioning from manual checking to surveillance-based monitoring and enforcing ticketed access. Ashwini Vaishnaw: Union Minister for Railways who directed the time-bound implementation of technology-driven security reforms and passenger amenity upgrades.
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Ministry of Railways Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Reviews Passenger Amenities and Security with Officials; Directs Time-Bound Implementation of Access Control and AI-Driven Reforms AI-Powered Camera Network to Enable Round-the-Clock Surveillance & Ensure that Our Journey and Station Experience are Safe Colour-Coded Fluorescent Jackets and Mandatory ID Cards for All Railway and Non-Railway Staff to Boost Accountability and Passenger Trust QR Code-Based Access Control System to be Piloted at New Delhi Railway Station to Streamline Entry of Passengers ahead of Expected Festival Rush during Diwali & Chhath RailOne App to be Integrated with Bharat Taxi to improve Passenger Experience and Deliver Seamless Last-Mile Connectivity Posted On: 20 MAR 2026 4:45PM by PIB Delhi Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw chaired a comprehensive review meeting with senior railway officials at Rail Bhawan today to assess the progress in station access, passenger amenity upgrades & other security related reinforcements to improve the passenger experience. The meeting focused on measures like access control, crowd management, technology-driven surveillance, and ease of mobility within station premises. These reforms will first be implemented at New Delhi Railway Station and, based on the lessons learned, will subsequently be rolled out to other stations. AI-Powered Camera Network to Ensure Round-the-Clock Surveillance Comprehensive AI-powered surveillance is to be deployed at New Delhi Railway Station through cameras, covering all nooks and corners of the station premises, including platforms, concourses, entry- exit points, and funnel areas prone to unauthorised entry.An Exception Event Display-based control room will be established where AI processing of live camera feeds will alert monitoring staff to unusual or unsafe events in real time. The Union Minister described cameras as the "eyes" and AI as the "brain" of the system, stressing that all camera coverage zones must be adequately lit to ensure maximum surveillance efficacy. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) will be additionally deployed to ensure only ticketed passengers access station premises, with a shift from manual checking to surveillance-based monitoring. Colour-Coded Uniforms and ID Cards for All Station Staff To bring uniformity and accountability among the large workforce, a colour-coded identification system has been directed for all personnel working in the station. Fluorescent jackets will be worn by Railway employees, while Non-Employees including vendors, station sahayaks, contractual staff, and IRCTC personnel will also wear colour coded jackets of some other colour. This is being done to enable the swift identification of passengers, employees and other non-employees like coolies, the staff of vendors, food, cleaning, parcel & maintenance personnel, present in the station premises, with which the security authorities & the ticket checking staff engage, while performing their duties. ID cards will be issued to all employees and non-employees, with comprehensive details needed for the identification purpose. The uniform identification system is meant to be progressively replicated across all stations of the North Zone, with New Delhi Station serving as the model & at a later date in other parts of the country. QR Code-Based Access Control System to be Piloted at New Delhi Railway Station A QR code-based entry management system is to be introduced at New Delhi Railway Station as a pilot project ahead of expected festival rush during Diwali & Chhath. The system will regulate entry based on valid tickets, enabling better segregation of Reserved ticket holders, Monthly Season Ticket holders, and Unreserved passengers. RailOne App to be Integrated with Bharat Taxi for Seamless Last-Mile Connectivity To improve the travel experience for passengers arriving at or departing from New Delhi Railway Station, the RailOne App is to be integrated with Bharat Taxi. The integration, being developed in collaboration with RailTel, aims to reduce the chaos outside station premises, minimise passenger inconvenience, and provide a reliable, transparent last-mile transport option. Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform. This is a major milestone in the Government of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the cooperative sector and promote inclusive, citizen- centric mobility solutions, in line with the vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’. Holding Areas to Ensure Seamless Crowd Management The meeting also reviewed the status of holding area upgrades across 76 railway stations. Designated holding areas are being created outside the station building for Unreserved travellers, ensuring controlled, phased access to platforms and preventing the flooding of concourses that has historically led to overcrowding and safety risks. The designated entry points will be available for passengers through the holding area for seamless movement. Signage improvements at all stations have also been directed, with clear and prominently visible signs for both Reserved and Unreserved ticket holders. Train information services are to be upgraded to keep passengers better informed while they wait in designated holding areas. Direct monitoring by the Railway Ministry will continue to ensure sustained improvement in passenger comfort at high-footfall stations across the network.These measures demonstrate Indian Railways’ commitment to transforming the country’s busiest stations into safe, well-organised, and passenger-friendly spaces. By combining technology, and upgraded physical infrastructure, the Railways aims to provide a seamless travel experience, from station entry to last-mile connectivity for the millions of passengers who rely on its services every day. ***** Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Manik Sharma (Release ID: 2243012) Visitor Counter : 417 Read this release in: Urdu , Marathi , ही , Bengali , Gujarati , Odia , Kannada

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