The reason? Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav paid a “surprise” visit, his third in the last 18 months, to the railway station.

“We were told about his arrival just five minutes before he showed up at the VIP gate,” a senior official at the station said.

“He was here to inspect arrangements for the Holi season and to make on-the-spot assessment of problems faced by passengers,” said Rakesh Saksena, Divisional Rail Manager, Northern Railways, who accompanied the minister.

The minister entered from the Paharganj side at approximately 5.15 pm and moved to the circulating area at the entrance of the station.

“He spoke to passengers who were at the ticket counters and asked if they faced any problems while booking their tickets,” a senior rail official said.

While most passengers said they were satisfied, a woman stepped forward saying she was being made to run around for a ticket. “Laluji called the person manning the current tickets booth and warned him,” said an official.