Indian Railways is upgrading passenger facilities by introducing smart parking at more than 100 railway stations. This move aims to save time for passengers and reduce congestion at station entrances. Passengers will soon be able to book parking slots in advance via a mobile app and enter using QR codes.
What are the new smart parking features?
The new system focuses on digital payments and automated entry-exit to ensure transparency. Instead of FASTag, the railway will use a dedicated digital system to avoid the hassle of exact change. Due to space constraints, the ministry is prioritizing multi-level vertical parking structures. This will allow passengers to save about 5 to 7 minutes during their commute.
Which stations are getting these updates?
The rollout is happening in phases across various zones. Key updates include:
| Location/Zone | Update Details |
|---|---|
| Major Stations (Phase 1) | 20-25 stations to get smart parking by 2029 |
| Dhanbad Station | New parking with EV charging at 50 rupees per charge |
| Chandigarh Station | New parking for 700-800 vehicles under Amrit Bharat Scheme |
| Samastipur Division | 20 major stations to get new platforms and parking |
| Ahmedabad Division | Integrated Control Center with dedicated staff parking |
| Raipur Division | Electronic interlocking at 13 stations for safer operations |
Will FASTag be used for railway parking?
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that FASTag will not be implemented for station parking. The focus remains on digital payments and automated systems to increase efficiency. Zonal railways have been advised to adopt automation to prevent overcharging by contractors and ensure a seamless experience for the common man.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
क्या रेलवे पार्किंग में FASTag चलेगा?
नहीं, रेल मंत्री ने स्पष्ट किया है कि पार्किंग के लिए FASTag लागू नहीं होगा। इसकी जगह डिजिटल पेमेंट और ऑटोमेटेड एंट्री-एग्जिट सिस्टम का इस्तेमाल होगा।
स्मार्ट पार्किंग से यात्रियों को क्या फायदा होगा?
यात्री घर बैठे मोबाइल ऐप से पार्किंग स्लॉट बुक कर सकेंगे और QR कोड से एंट्री कर पाएंगे, जिससे उनका 5-7 मिनट का समय बचेगा।