No relief for passengers: 20% of trains still diverted 10 months after ‘70-day’ Kalupur block

Passengers who expected easier travel and better facilities through Ahmedabad’s Kalupur railway station redevelopment are continuing to face longer commutes nearly 10 months after a 70-day block was first imposed on parts of the station. Even after work on some platforms was completed, around 20% of train services remain diverted, forcing many commuters to travel to Sabarmati and other stations to board trains.

What began as a temporary arrangement linked to redevelopment work has extended well beyond the original timeline, leaving thousands of passengers dealing with additional travel time, expenses and traffic congestion.

Daily commutes become longer for many passengers

For commuters, especially those from eastern Ahmedabad, the continued diversion of trains has altered routines that once revolved around Kalupur station.

Passengers who earlier boarded trains directly from Kalupur are now required to travel farther to reach Sabarmati and other stations. For many, that means spending more time on the road, arranging additional transport and factoring in extra costs before even beginning their train journey.

The inconvenience has continued despite progress on redevelopment works at Kalupur station.

In July last year, railway authorities imposed a 70-day block on Platforms 8 and 9 to facilitate redevelopment work. Around 21 trains, including Navjeevan Express, Gujarat Queen, Saurashtra Express and Double Decker services, were shifted to stations such as Sabarmati, Asarwa, Vatva and Maninagar.

At the time, the arrangement was presented as temporary.

However, even after work on Platforms 8 and 9 moved ahead and portions of it were completed, several train services have not returned to Kalupur station.

Questions raised over delays in returning trains

The prolonged diversion has also led to questions from passengers about the pace of implementation.

Redevelopment projects are intended to improve infrastructure and create better passenger experiences. But for many commuters, the immediate experience has been one of extended inconvenience.

Some passengers have questioned why trains continue to operate from alternative stations if parts of the platform work have already been completed, saying the benefits of redevelopment remain difficult to see in daily travel.

Railway cites ongoing Platform 9 work

Explaining why shifted train services have not yet returned to Kalupur station, Ahmedabad Railway Division PRO Ajay Solanki said work by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) on Platform 9 is still ongoing.

According to Solanki, construction timelines were affected after labourers left for their hometowns during the summer vacation period, slowing progress on the project.

He said work has since gathered pace following the return of workers and added that RLDA is expected to hand over Platform 9 to Western Railway in June after completion of the remaining work.

Railway authorities have said the broader Kalupur redevelopment project is being carried out in phases and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Trains still operating from Sabarmati station

Some train services that continue to operate from Sabarmati include:

Train No. 20495: Jodhpur–Hadapsar Express

Train No. 14701: Aravali Express

Train No. 22916: Hisar–Bandra Express

Train No. 20824: Ajmer–Puri Express

Train No. 22992: Bhagat Ki Kothi–Valsad Express

Train No. 19016: Porbandar–Dadar Saurashtra Express