Rapido pickup facility launched at Visakhapatnam Railway Station

Divisional Railway Manager of the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway, Lalit Bohra, on Friday, launched a dedicated Rapido pickup booking facility at Visakhapatnam Railway Station to strengthen last-mile connectivity for passengers.

Railway officials said the newly created pickup point is expected to benefit nearly 8,000 to 10,000 passengers by enabling quicker and more convenient travel from the station to different parts of the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bohra said passengers had been facing delays in securing rides from the station due to inaccurate estimated arrival times shown on ride-hailing platforms. In several cases, drivers engaged in other trips resulted in longer waiting periods, despite shorter ETAs being displayed.

To address the issue, the Waltair Division has set up a dedicated pickup zone under the Non-Fare Revenue (NFR) system. The facility is expected to improve coordination between passengers and Rapido riders, reduce waiting time, and ensure near-instant ride availability.

Officials said the initiative gives priority to passenger safety and convenience. Women passengers will have the option of choosing women riders, while senior citizens and passengers requiring assistance will be attended to by trained and experienced drivers.

A representative of Rapido said similar facilities may be introduced at other railway stations under the Waltair Division in view of the encouraging response and growing demand.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager K. Pavan Kumar, Divisional Commercial Manager Pooja Singh, Station Director A.M. Ubale, and other officials were present on the occasion.