[1] Spread over 42 hectares (100 acres), the terminal is one of the largest railway stations and handles the vast majority of east-bound trains from Delhi since the conclusion of the second phase of development.

To address this challenge and improve accessibility, Anand Vihar, situated in the trans-Yamuna region, was chosen as the location for a new mega railway terminal.

[13][14][15][16][17] By mid-July 2010, the Northern Railways planned to shift six more regular trains to the Anand Vihar Terminal and also floated a global tender for consultancies to develop a masterplan for Phase II of the project.

Modeled after the Vashi station in Navi Mumbai,[21] the terminal also reduced road congestion by decreasing the daily influx of a million people into New Delhi.

Additionally, plans are in place to widen the rail overbridge at Anand Vihar, as the current structure is insufficient to handle the increasing traffic.

[22][23] Construction of a new RapidX rail station, part of the high-speed Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System, is currently underway near the terminal.

This corridor, slated to become operational by mid-2025, aims to enhance connectivity and further integrate the terminal into Delhi's expanding multimodal transportation network.

Phase I of the two-storey railway station was inaugurated on 19 December 2009, featuring three platforms, a coach maintenance yard, and feeder lines to Sahibabad Junction.

Furthermore, three existing trains from Nizamuddin and New Delhi stations, running to Varanasi, Jogbani, and Motihari, were planned to shift to this terminal from March onward.

[28][29][30] In Phase II, the number of platforms at the Anand Vihar Terminal will be increased to seven, enabling it to handle over three lakh passengers and up to 270 trains daily.

[2] The terminal has dedicated facilities for loading and unloading parcels, linen, and food items in the station yard instead of the platforms to ensure cleanliness.