Bhagalpur: Indian Railways has started fast preparations to improve passenger facilities at Bhagalpur railway station as a heavy rush is expected during the Holi festival, similar to the crowd seen during Chhath Puja. To handle this pressure, a permanent modular waiting hall, also called a holding area, will be built at the station. The waiting hall will be two storeys high and is being planned in a way that helps control crowds and makes travel safer and more comfortable for passengers.
A two-member team from the Railway Board visited Bhagalpur station on Monday to inspect possible locations for the new structure. The inspection was carried out by Shobha Banerjee, manager at Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), and architect Vivek Pal. They surveyed three locations in the station’s circulating area, including the space near the reservation ticket counter and the motorcycle parking stand. Senior railway officials, such as the station director, station superintendent and other officers, were present during the inspection and shared details about daily passenger movement and existing problems.
The proposed waiting hall will be spread over nearly 3,000 square metres. To avoid overcrowding on platforms, general ticket counters will be set up inside the holding area itself. Passengers will be allowed to enter this area only after buying a ticket. The waiting hall will have proper seating arrangements, electronic train display boards and toilet facilities. A separate entry route will also be created for passengers with reserved tickets so that they can reach the platforms directly without passing through crowded areas.
Railway officials said that around 108 trains pass through Bhagalpur station every day. On normal days, nearly 45,000 to 50,000 passengers use the station, but during festivals like Chhath Puja the number increases sharply, and a similar situation is expected during Holi. Many platforms at the station are currently shorter and narrower than required, and staircases on the foot overbridge are also narrow, causing inconvenience. There are plans to extend platforms and widen staircases in the future. Shobha Banerjee said a detailed project report will be prepared soon and sent to the Railway Board. Construction work will begin after official approval is given.
