Railway reservation counter to reopen at JNU after five years

After a gap of five years, the railway reservation counter on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus is set to reopen, following consistent efforts by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The move, which was among the ABVP’s key promises during the previous student union elections, has been welcomed as a relief for students, particularly those facing difficulties in booking tickets online or through agents.

According to the ABVP, the reopening was made possible after a delegation from the organisation met the Union Railway Minister last month and submitted a detailed memorandum outlining the students’ challenges.

The Railway Ministry, after reviewing the request and coordinating with university authorities, approved the proposal to restart the facility on campus.

Calling it a victory of constructive student politics, the ABVP said the development underscored its focus on student welfare and problem-solving. “The reopening of the railway counter stands as proof that the ABVP doesn’t just speak, it delivers,” Vikas Patel, ABVP’s presidential candidate for the upcoming JNUSU elections, said.

He added that the organisation aimed to make campus politics student-centric and result-oriented.

Echoing similar views, ABVP’s vice-presidential candidate Tanya Kumari said the initiative reflected the group’s student-first and solution-driven approach. “It’s time for JNU’s discussions to centre around JNU’s students and their rights, not on global political narratives. Issues like women’s safety, health counselling, mental health, extended library hours and campus cleanliness are at the heart of our agenda,” she said.

The railway reservation counter, once a key facility for students travelling to their hometowns, had remained closed for several years, forcing students to rely on digital platforms or travel to nearby stations for bookings. Its reopening, the ABVP said, symbolises the organisation’s commitment to addressing everyday student concerns through direct engagement with authorities.

With the announcement coming days before the JNUSU elections, the ABVP leaders said the move reinforced their call for student-centric and nationalist politics. The organisation expressed confidence about securing all four central panel seats this year, citing unprecedented support from the campus community.