To better manage growing crowds and ensure passenger safety, the Pune railway administration has announced that only passengers with confirmed or Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets will be allowed direct access to platforms.
Passengers with waiting list or general tickets will now be required to wait in designated waiting areas, which are currently being set up across four identified locations — including near platform number six and the ‘VIP side’ of the station.
This move is part of a Railway Board initiative targeting crowd control at 60 major railway stations across India. Pune joins this list along with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and Nagpur station.
According to Swapnil Neela, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway,
“Due to high footfall, especially with special trains, Pune station was included in the plan to streamline passenger movement.”
General tickets can still be purchased for passengers without confirmed tickets—but only after confirmed passengers have boarded. Ticket Inspectors and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will manage a special queue to facilitate orderly boarding into general coaches.
Anand Saptarshi, member of the Regional Advisory Committee, added,
“With summer and festive crowds increasing, this move is crucial to prevent mishaps. Waiting areas must be set up without delay.”
The policy aims to reduce chaos on platforms and improve the overall safety and experience for railway passengers.
