Railways tries new system at Delhi station to reduce congestion

In a bid to reduce congestion at the New Delhi railway station, Northern Railways has introduced time constraints for pick-up and drop at the Ajmeri Gate entrance.

Called a 'parking-cum-access control rights' system, it allots eight minutes for non-commercial vehicles to pick up passengers after which time they will be charged Rs 50.

Commercial vehicles, on the other hand, will be charged Rs 30 on entry, Rs 50 after eight minutes and Rs 200 after 15 minutes.


In both cases, if the vehicle stays is in the lane after 30 minutes have passed, a fine of Rs 1,000 will be levied and the vehicle will get towed away.

The system aims to keep cars from parking in the pick up/drop lane and instead turn them towards designated parking zones.

"Our study estimated that in order to pick up a passenger, it only takes around two-three minutes. We have still given non-commercial vehicles up to eight minutes to enter the lane, stop and pick up/ drop a passenger. This is free of cost for them. Only after eight minutes they will have to pay," Delhi's divisional railway manager, SC Jain, told ToI.

This model is set for trial at one section and could later be expanded to encompass the rest of the station.