Bypass Network Ready': How ₹1,275-Crore Rail Overhaul Will Skip Ahmedabad Station

Western Railway has initiated a major infrastructure overhaul around Ahmedabad, investing ₹1,275 crore in multi-tracking projects designed to allow long-distance trains to bypass the city's heavily congested central station.

The strategy centres on two key projects: doubling the 21-km Sabarmati D Cabin–Sarkhej section at a cost of ₹313 crore, and laying a 38-km fourth line connecting Barejadi-Nandej (Geratpur) to Sanand for ₹962 crore. Both initiatives have been classified by the Railway Ministry as high-priority corridor expansions for Gujarat.

De-congesting the Central Hub

At present, passenger and freight services travelling from Mumbai toward Saurashtra or North Gujarat are required to negotiate the bottlenecks of the primary Ahmedabad corridor. Once operational, the new Barejadi-Nandej to Sanand link will allow railway traffic to be rerouted directly from Geratpur through Sanand and Viramgam.

This operational bypass addresses acute platform and track shortages at Ahmedabad Junction. By redirecting through-trains away from the main terminal, railway authorities expect to minimise waiting times, lower crossing conflicts, and improve overall punctuality across the regional network.

Strengthening Links to Dholera SIR and Sanand

The doubling of the single-line Sabarmati D Cabin–Sarkhej stretch removes existing line-capacity constraints, allowing simultaneous movement in both directions. Crucially, this corridor serves as a direct rail connection to the emerging Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) via future extensions from Sarkhej.

As part of the Sabarmati–Sarkhej widening, Vastrapur railway station will be relocated near the Vejalpur overbridge. The upgraded station will feature 300 to 350-metre platforms alongside modern passenger amenities, including expanded waiting areas, booking facilities, and revised pedestrian infrastructure.

Boosting Regional Industrial Logistics

Combined, the 59 km of additional track work transforms Ahmedabad from a bottleneck terminal into an integrated bypass hub. Alongside passenger benefits, the capacity expansion provides dedicated freight routing options for the industrial zones of Sanand and Dholera, improving logistics access between South Gujarat, Mumbai, and northern destinations.