Ahmedabad railway station is preparing to reopen platforms 9 to 12 before Diwali, a move expected to improve passenger handling during the festival rush and allow redevelopment work to shift to platforms 4 to 7. The four platforms remain subject to inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), scheduled for 27 October.
Railway authorities have begun checking the tracks, overhead electrification (OHE) and signalling systems before seeking approval to resume train operations from the platforms. The inspection will determine whether the facilities meet the safety requirements for reopening.
Platforms 9 to 12 at the Kalupur station were closed in connection with the bullet train project and the wider station redevelopment programme. According to the report, platform 9 currently has a block that must be removed. Platforms 10, 11 and 12 have been converted from metre gauge to broad gauge, making the CRS inspection necessary before regular train services can begin.
The reopening plan is intended to create operational space for the next stage of redevelopment. Once platforms 9 to 12 are available, the railway is expected to take a block on platforms 4 to 7 and begin major work there. Train operations can then be adjusted across the available platforms, allowing construction activity to proceed in phases rather than requiring all work to be carried out around active passenger areas.
The timing is significant for Ahmedabad station because passenger volumes are expected to rise during the Diwali travel period. Railway authorities expect the additional platforms to help manage the increase in passengers and provide greater flexibility for train operations. The report does not specify which train services will be assigned to the reopened platforms.
The reopening target follows earlier delays in the redevelopment schedule. Platforms 9 to 12 had previously been expected to open in April, after which the target was moved to August. Technical issues delayed the work further, and the current plan is to make the four platforms operational before Diwali, subject to the required inspection and approvals.
The sequence highlights the operational challenge of redeveloping a busy railway station while continuing to run passenger services. New or restored platforms are required before existing platforms can be taken out of service for construction, making safety inspections and commissioning milestones central to the pace of the project.
The immediate next step is the CRS inspection on 27 October. If the platforms, tracks, OHE and signalling systems receive the necessary clearance, railway authorities will proceed with preparations to start services on platforms 9 to 12 before Diwali. Work on platforms 4 to 7 is planned after that transition.
