Bhagalpur: Bihar’s first permanent passenger holding area is set to be developed at Bhagalpur railway station at an estimated cost of Rs 39 crore. The facility is intended to help the railway manage large passenger crowds, particularly during Diwali and Chhath.
The project has reportedly received administrative and technical approval from the Railway Board. Once completed, the facility will provide passengers with a designated space to wait before boarding trains.
Facilities For Passengers
The proposed holding area is expected to include seating arrangements along with drinking water, toilets, urinals and bathrooms. These facilities are aimed at providing passengers with a more organised waiting space during periods of heavy traffic.
At present, temporary tents and pandals are put up at the station during the festive season to accommodate additional passengers. A permanent facility would reduce the need for such temporary arrangements.
Focus On Festival Rush
Passenger numbers at Bhagalpur station increase significantly around Diwali and Chhath, when migrant workers and other travellers move between Bihar and cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad and locations in Punjab.
The additional traffic puts pressure on the station and platforms. The holding area is expected to allow railway authorities to regulate passenger movement by accommodating people away from crowded platforms until their trains are ready for boarding.
First Such Facility In Bihar
According to reports, Bhagalpur will be the first railway station in Bihar and the Malda railway division to receive a permanent passenger holding facility of this kind.
The project is intended as a long-term crowd-management measure, particularly for the annual festive rush, while also improving access to basic passenger amenities at the station.
