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’10 minutes for pick-up and drop’: People face parking pangs at railway station

Construction of a new approach road and other infrastructure upgrades near the station entrance has narrowed available space.

4 min readChandigarhJan 9, 2026 12:16 AM IST

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Chandigarh Railway Station (Express Photo)

While the Chandigarh Railway Station is undergoing a major facelift to give it a world-class look, the ongoing construction work has turned the station’s parking and pick-up zones into a daily ordeal for commuters. Those arriving to pick up or drop passengers allege that traffic congestion and poor management are forcing them to pay parking charges despite a 10-minute free window officially provided for pick-and-drop.

Construction of a new approach road and other infrastructure upgrades near the station entrance has narrowed available space. During the arrival of premium trains such as the Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express, the situation worsens, with long queues of private vehicles and taxis choking the access road. As a result, motorists often spend most of their “free” time stuck in traffic even before reaching the pick-up corridor.

According to the current system, the parking contractor allows 10 minutes of free parking for pick-and-drop. However, once this limit is crossed, Rs 50 is charged for up to 30 minutes and Rs 100 for up to 60 minutes. Commuters, however, argue that given the prevailing congestion, exiting the station premises within the free time is nearly impossible.

Neeraj Ahuja, a resident of Kharar, experienced the chaos first-hand on Thursday when he reached the station to pick up his relatives arriving by the Vande Bharat Express at 3.35 pm.

“As I entered the parking area to pick up my relatives, I was given a slip mentioning 10 minutes as free time to pick up and exit. But when trains like Shatabdi and Vande Bharat arrive, the rush of private cars and taxis is so heavy that it becomes impossible to pick someone up and exit within 10 minutes,” Ahuja said.

He added that the train arrived slightly late, forcing him to wait in the pick-up corridor for another seven to eight minutes. “When I finally tried to exit the station, the parking staff stopped me and said I had crossed 32 minutes. I was then forced to pay Rs 100, which is charged for one hour. There is complete chaos at the Chandigarh Railway Station parking,” he said.

Similar complaints were voiced by Jagtar Singh, a resident of Zirakpur, who entered the pick-up lane around the same time. “The moment I entered, there was already chaos all around. Vehicles were barely moving. When I exited the parking premises, I was charged Rs 50 for half an hour, even though most of my time was wasted in the jam,” he said.

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Outside the railway station, the main road is also in chaos, as there too taxis and autorickshaws are parked wrongly with buses from bus stop adding to the chaos, added Jagtar Singh.

Group Captain Sunil Bisht, a city resident who also visited the station on Thursday, said the problem was not new. “The chaos at the parking area is a regular affair. Nothing is properly managed there, especially during peak train arrivals,” he remarked.

A railway official, however, said that three booths had been proposed with boom barriers for the queue of vehicles, but at present there are just two of them. Soon, the third booth shall be set up with boom barrier which would decrease the long queues at exit of parking and the chaos.

Meanwhile, the contractor is allowing 10 minutes of free parking, the railway’s guidelines permit only six minutes free. When a train arrives, commuters and some taxi drivers park their vehicles on the road inside the parking lot, which sometimes lead to chaos, added the official.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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