Waiting rooms are available at major stations for use by genuine passengers. This logic is somewhat similar to airport waiting systems.
Waiting Rooms in Railway Stations
Waiting Rooms/Halls over Indian Railways
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5374 numbers of stations have waiting rooms/halls over Indian Railways, Railway announced via press release on 30.07.2021. In the rest of the stations, seating arrangements are provided in the concourse/ticket booking area. Waiting rooms/halls are included in Minimum Essential Amenities, which are ensured at all categories of railway stations except Suburban Stations (SG) and Halt Station-3 (HG-3) stations. Upgradation/modernization of railway stations including waiting rooms/halls on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process, however, priority is accorded to a higher category of stations over the lower category of stations while sanctioning and executing the works depending upon need, the volume of passenger traffic and availability of funds.
Types of Waiting Rooms
There are 3 types of Waiting Rooms
- Lower Class Waiting Rooms – Non AC
- Ladies Waiting Rooms – Non AC
- Upper-Class Waiting Rooms – AC
The lower class and ladies are non AC but the upper class is AC. The upper class is for 3A/2A/1A/EC/CC passengers and non-AC rooms are for SL/2S passengers having confirmed or RAC tickets. There is a toilet usually in most waiting rooms but no shower facility.
Waiting Rooms are present at all major railway stations in India mostly on Platform no. 1 or on the terminus side. They are for short term duration use and are free. They are for passengers waiting for departure (outbound trains) and not for arrival. They provide limited seating areas for passengers waiting to catch a train and so no reservations are allowed and seating is first come first served.
- According to rules, it is 3 hours before departure or after the arrival of your train.
- One should possess a valid ticket with a PNR number.
- An entry needs to be made in the waiting room register.
- Passenger can only enter the respective waiting room for the class of travel.
- At the destination station, passengers are not allowed to spend time in Waiting Room.
- At intermediate station where you have to change the train, you can spend time in the Waiting room till your train arrives.
If the train is late and you are not getting the waiting room you can ask for help to railway police and stay in the waiting room or a station in the permission of the Railway Officer, in that time no restriction for time.
List of Waiting Rooms in Different Stations
Details of Waiting Rooms in different Railway Stations in India
- Kozhikode Railway Station : Passengers at Kozhikode railway station can now enjoy the comfort of a Prepaid AC Waiting Hall available at Platform No. 1.
- Sealdah Railway : Modern Executive Lounge ‘Abhivadan’ : The Executive lounge ‘Abhivadan’ at Sealdah Railway Station, located beside Platform No. 14, offers a serene atmosphere for passengers during their time at Sealdah.
- Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Junction Station : The Relax Zone, a wellness facility, has been launched at Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Junction Station of South Western Railway.
- Chhota Ambona and Kalubathan stations : The Second Class Waiting Halls at Mugma, Chhota Ambona, and Kalubathan stations, featuring state-of-the-art interior décor and modern fittings, will provide cozy accommodation for passengers while they wait.
- Kumardubi Station : VIP Rest Room at Kumardubi Station is equipped with plush sofa chairs where passengers can comfortably relax or take short nap in a spacious and pleasant ambience.
- Jabalpur Railway Station, Madhya Pradesh : The Waiting Lounge of Jabalpur Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh.
- Sogaria Station : VIP Waiting Lounge and General Waiting Lounge at Sogaria Station, Kota, Rajasthan.
- Secunderabad Railway Station : General Waiting Hall at Platform 1 of Secunderabad Railway station has the facility of DAWA DOST – where passengers can avail 24×7 Physician Doctor consultation and essential medicines at a nominal price.
AC Waiting Room : Visakhapatnam Railway Station
Waiting Room : Raniganj Railway Station
Renovated Station Facade and Upper-Class Waiting Room inaugurated at Raniganj Station on 25.02.2021. There is the provision of toilets, train information system, improved ambiance, etc.
Waiting Room : Kannur Railway Station
Waiting Room : Dimapur, Nagaland Railway Station
Waiting Room : Mumbai Central Railway Station
The Waiting Room has been upgraded with modern facilities such as Fully Air-conditioned waiting room with aesthetic ambience, Cushioned sofa sets, Recliner chairs, Separate toilet facilities separate for Ladies and Gents, Mobile charging points and Tea and light refreshment facilities. The modernization of waiting room was undertaken on PPP model. Railways saved on expenditure on its renovation and managed to generate revenue of Rs.1 crore, towards license fee for 5 years.
POD Hotels at Mumbai Central Railway Stations
Waiting Room : Anand Vihar Railway Station
Waiting Room : Guntakal Railway Station
Guntakal 
Railway Station Waiting area details
Waiting Room : Ahmedabad Station
General category Waiting Room in Ahmedabad railway station on Platform 8/9.
Waiting Room : Bhagalpur Railway Station
Renovated Ladies waiting Hall at Bhagalpur Railway Station
Waiting Room : Kalupur Stations
IRCTC lounge in Kalupur (Ahmedabad) railway station is available for ₹ 60 per hour. AC sitting, wi-fi, toilet, and charging port are available over there.
Waiting Room : Kollam Station
At Kollam station the Waiting Room facility is manned by Kudumbashree and the hall has a seating capacity of 40. A mini library, TV, washrooms and a kids play zone are additional features of these AC waiting hall. A reasonable entry fee of ₹ 25/hour is charged.
Waiting Room : New Delhi Railway Station
Two upper class AC waiting halls have been made available at New Delhi Railway Station, one each on Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate side. Passengers can avail the facility by paying a Nominal charge of ₹ 10/hr per person.
Waiting Room : Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M G Ramachandran Railway Station (Chennai Central)
Waiting Room : Patna Jn. Station
New waiting hall at Patna Jn. Station in 7500 Sqr ft area with over 300 persons seating capacity. Further 200 more seats can be added, 65″ – Digital screens with entertainment and train information 24×7, Madhubani Paintings, Centrally air conditioned hall, 100% Led lighting.
Waiting Room : Sambalpur Railway Station
A modern and Integrated Air-conditioned Waiting Hall is in Sambalpur Railway Station. This Integrated Waiting Hall is attached to the Food Court of the Station and passengers need not go outside to get Snacks and Drinking Water. 1900 sqft modern waiting area facilities have been provided to the passengers at a cost of about ₹ 25 lakhs. Public Address System has been installed in the Integrated Waiting Hall to enable the passengers to know about information on arrival and departure of Trains.
Besides the choice of refreshments, Modern Steel Chairs are available in the Integrated Waiting Hall. The state-of-the-art Integrated Waiting Hall is the only of its kind in Sambalpur Railway Division where passengers can get relax during waiting for their trains with the option to munch on snacks, chocolates, and other food items or sip tea, coffee, and juice. Apart from the above, the well-furnished Integrated Waiting Hall has been given the look of local Arts and Culture having Divyang Friendly facilities.
Waiting Room: Sealdah Railway Station
New Upper-Class Waiting Room for more comfort to the passengers commissioned at Sealdah station (Eastern Railway) on 21.9.2019. The new Upper-Class Waiting Room at Sealdah opened on 21.09.2019 by an elderly lady passenger in presence of DRM/ Sealdah and other senior Divisional Officers.
Waiting Room : Trivandrum Central Station
AC Paid waiting room at Trivandrum Central with a seating capacity of 48 passengers has been set up in association with Kudumbashree, an all-women Self Help Group under Govt. of Kerala.A reasonable entry fee of ✅ ₹ 25/hour is charged.
Vishakhapatnam Railway Station Gaming Zone For Passengers
First time in Indian Railways a gaming zone has been developed at PF No.1 of Vishakhapatnam Railway Station for waiting passengers and their children. This is an innovative initiative by Waltair Division.
What about other Class A stations like NDLS, NZM, CHENNAI CENTRAL, CHENNAI EGMORE, TPJ ETC? OTHER ZONES HAVE BEEN MISSED OUT. PLEASE GIVE FULLER DETAILS OF STATIONS HAVING THIS FACILITY.