In February 2020, Indian Railways installed a squat machine at Anand Vihar station in Delhi, offering a free platform ticket to anyone who completed 30 squats in 180 seconds. It was one of the more unusual passenger initiatives the railways has tried, and it drew wide attention at the time.
Please note: This was a single machine at one station, introduced as a pilot. Wider installation was spoken about at the time but did not follow at any scale. Do not expect to find one at your station. If you need a platform ticket, buy it in the usual way.
How the Squat Machine Worked
| Location | Anand Vihar railway station, Delhi |
| Introduced | February 2020 |
| Task | 30 squats within 180 seconds |
| Reward | One free platform ticket |
| Purpose | Promoting the Fit India movement |
The machine counted repetitions automatically. On completing 30 within the time limit, it printed and dispensed a platform ticket. Anyone could use it, and there was no charge to try.
Why It Was Introduced
The idea came out of the Fit India campaign, which encouraged everyday physical activity. Railway stations offered an obvious setting, since passengers frequently have idle time waiting for a train, and a small incentive tied to something they were about to buy anyway made the exercise worth a minute of effort.
It attracted considerable attention when announced, largely because it was so unlike anything else on a railway platform.
What Happened Next
Wider rollout was discussed but did not materialise at any meaningful scale. The pandemic followed within weeks of the installation, shifting priorities away from encouraging people to gather and exercise in public spaces, and the initiative did not resume afterwards.
As things stand, you should not count on finding a squat machine at any station.
How to Get a Platform Ticket Now
Platform tickets are bought in the ordinary way:
- At the station booking counter.
- At an ATVM, paying by UPI QR or smart card. See our ATVM guide.
- Through the official RailOne app, which replaced UTS in March 2026.
- Paying from your R-Wallet earns a small discount.
A platform ticket allows you to enter the platform area without travelling, typically valid for a couple of hours. Travelling on one is not permitted and attracts a penalty.
Other Passenger Facilities at Stations
Unlike the squat machine, these are genuinely available across the network:
| Waiting rooms | By class, along with retiring rooms at larger stations |
| Wheelchair assistance | Free on request at most stations. See our wheelchair guide |
| Yatri Mitra Sewa | Wheelchair with porter help, bookable in advance. See our Yatri Mitra guide |
| Jan Aushadhi Kendras | Cheap generic medicines at over 100 stations. See our Jan Aushadhi guide |
| Drinking water | Free taps and booths on platforms, plus packaged water. See our Rail Neer guide |
| Cloak rooms and lockers | For luggage storage |
| Free Wi-Fi | At a large number of stations |
Stations being rebuilt under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme are adding lifts, escalators, better waiting areas and accessible facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
✅ Is there still a squat machine at railway stations?
No. It was a single pilot machine at Anand Vihar in Delhi, introduced in February 2020. Wider installation did not follow, so you should not expect to find one.
✅ How many squats did it take to get a free ticket?
30 squats within 180 seconds earned one free platform ticket.
✅ Why was it introduced?
To promote the Fit India movement, using the waiting time passengers already spend at stations.
✅ How do I get a platform ticket now?
At the booking counter, at an ATVM using UPI QR, or through the official RailOne app.
Quick Summary
| What it was | A machine dispensing free platform tickets for exercise |
| Where | Anand Vihar station, Delhi |
| When | February 2020 |
| Task | 30 squats in 180 seconds |
| Current status | A one-off pilot, not a network facility |
| Platform tickets now | Counter, ATVM or RailOne app |
The squat machine remains one of the more memorable experiments Indian Railways has tried, even if it never went further than one platform in Delhi. For facilities you can actually rely on, see our guides on wheelchair services, Jan Aushadhi Kendras and station redevelopment.
Did you ever use the squat machine at Anand Vihar? Tell us in the comments.