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Work while you wait: Mumbai Central to have Railways’ first digital lounge, check out its features here

Central Railway plans similar lounges featuring co-working facilities at Andheri, Goregaon, Borivali, and Bandra Terminus.

The lounge will be created in a 1,712 sq ft empty space and will combine shared workstations and enclosed cubicles. (Source: Wikipedia)

Western Railway will soon open India’s first digital lounge, which will be a complete co-working facility at the Mumbai Central railway station. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Railways to enhance station infrastructure and provide modern amenities to commuters. The lounge, designed to meet airport standards, will be conveniently located between food plazas and platforms, making it an efficient place for travellers waiting for long-distance trains.

The lounge will be created in a 1,712 sq ft empty space and will combine shared workstations and enclosed cubicles. It will be air-conditioned and provided with high-speed internet, power charging points, comfortable seating, printing and scanning facilities and light refreshments via vending machines. The place will also have conference rooms and meeting facilities for organising small professional or social functions.

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According to officials, the lounge is an attempt to cater to the new generation and help them utilise their waiting time for work purposes. “The facility is being developed keeping in mind the digital generation who prefer working on the go and would utilise their waiting time for productive purposes,” said Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway.

Meant to seat 20 to 50 passengers at a time, the lounge will be available to both train travellers and the general public. The officials said that it will likely function on an hourly fee system under a private partnership model.

Western Railway expects to earn about Rs 50 lakh per annum just from the Mumbai Central lounge, with combined revenue potential from equivalent lounges in the region at Rs 2.71 crore. This digital lounge initiative is the Railways’ new thrust for innovation in line with national ambitions such as Digital India. The idea is to make railway stations the city centres of comprehensive services, other than transport.

As part of the Rs 947 crore Station Improvement Project by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, identical digital lounges have been planned at other important locations such as Andheri, Goregaon, Borivali, Bandra Terminus, and other locations. “After this lounge is successful, we also plan to extend it to other railway stations on the western railway as it gains popularity,” added the spokesperson.

Mumbai Central will be the pilot site, with construction and furnishing to be done by a private contractor. The idea brings contemporary workspaces into transit areas and provides a pragmatic solution for professionals, business travellers, and regular commuters who need workspaces in transit. “The project also maximises non-fare revenue for Indian Railways by making efficient use of underutilised station space,” said Abhishek.

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The lounge is expected to open to the public in the coming months, offering a seamless blend of mobility and productivity at one of Mumbai’s busiest railway terminals.

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