As one of India's busiest railway hubs, the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) is a critical artery in the nation's transport network. Understanding its daily operations and future capacity is key for millions of passengers. The station, under the Delhi Division of Northern Railway, handles an immense volume of traffic and is now poised for a significant transformation to meet growing demands.
Daily Train Operations: A Hub of Constant Activity
So, exactly how many trains run from this pivotal station every day? A senior railway official confirmed to Indianexpress.com that a total of 328 trains operate from New Delhi station daily. This figure includes a mix of long-distance Mail/Express trains and local EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) services.
The breakdown of these 328 daily train movements is detailed and reveals the station's complex role as both an origin/termination point and a transit corridor. For Mail and Express trains, 87 originate from NDLS, another 87 terminate their journeys there, and 79 more pass through the station. When it comes to local EMU services, 19 trains both start and end at NDLS, while 37 EMU trains pass through it every day.
Platform Distribution and Passenger Footfall
The station's 16 platforms manage this heavy traffic with varying loads. Platform 1 is the busiest, handling 34 trains daily, followed by Platform 14 with 27 trains. Other high-traffic platforms include Platform 3 (24 trains), Platform 5 (23 trains), and Platform 6 (22 trains). This orchestrated movement supports a staggering daily passenger footfall of around four lakh (400,000) people within a current built-up area of 17,274 square metres.
To aid passenger convenience, the Yatri Suvidha Kendra (Permanent Holding Area) was opened last year. This facility is designed to comfortably accommodate up to 7,000 passengers at any given time, providing much-needed waiting space.
The Massive Redevelopment and Modernisation Plan
In response to this heavy usage and the need to enhance train-handling capacity, the Ministry of Railways has launched a major redevelopment project. The cornerstone of this modernisation involves constructing two new station buildings.
The plan entails demolishing the existing structures beside Platforms 1 and 16 and erecting new, modern buildings in their place. Together, these two new buildings will add approximately 1,09,000 square metres of built-up area, a massive increase from the current footprint.
The redevelopment will comprehensively upgrade passenger amenities. The design includes a proper holding area, an apron area for smooth transition of passengers from an elevated road to the station building, and enhanced retail spaces. Parking facilities will be integrated into the new structures.
A crucial aspect of the plan is seamless integration with various city traffic modes and the Delhi Metro network. This multimodal connectivity is aimed at easing access and reducing congestion around the station, creating a future-ready transit hub for the national capital.
