Categories of railway stations revised under new policy decision

Ministry of Railways on Thursday revised categories of various railway stations taking into account earnings, passenger footfall and strategic importance.

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal directed to re-categorize railway stations taking into account earnings, passenger footfall, strategic importance with a view to plan various passenger services and passenger amenities at stations in a more effective and focused manner. 

The move will also help the passenger to have a better experience in relation to travel amenities at stations, said a Railway statement.

"The earlier criteria for station categorisation was based on the annual passenger earnings only. Stations were categorised into 7 categories of A-1, A, B, C, D, E and F. The criteria for categorisation of stations have now been revised to include footfalls at the station. The stations have been further segregated based on the type and clubbed into 3 groups i.e. non-suburban (NS), suburban (S) and Halt (H). Further these groups have been put in grades ranging from NSG1-6, SG1-3 and HG1-3 respectively," the statement said.

In the old criteria, the number of stations with high passenger footfalls could not be covered into the higher category of station which led to these stations being eligible for lower level of amenities. 

As per the new criteria, the number of footfalls has also been given equal weightage and is taken into account as criteria for categorisation of stations. Therefore, many stations like Kalyan, Panvel, Tambaram, Thane have qualified into the higher category and become eligible for higher level of passenger amenities.

Under this new scheme of categorization of railway stations, the stations have been clubbed into 3 groups namely Non-Suburban, Suburban and Halt. Further, these groups have been put in different grades ranging from 1-6. 

In view of the new criteria, even the small station will get the higher level of amenities which will lead to better passenger satisfaction.