India, Feb. 19 -- Days after a deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) killed 18 people, railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday met Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES) officials to discuss crowd management solutions.

RITES will design permanent holding areas at five key stations, including NDLS, two officials familiar with the matter said.

On Monday, Vaishnaw said the ministry was prioritising crowd control, especially during festivals and high-traffic periods. "As part of our learnings, we have decided to ensure crowd management at railway stations, especially during festivals and special occasions like this. Over the next six months, we will establish dedicated holding areas at 60 railway sta...