Ahmedabad Station to Miss Six Trains for 70 Days from July 5
Ahmedabad will see six major long-distance trains diverted from the central Kalupur railway station for 70 days starting July 5, as part of an extensive infrastructure upgrade. Western Railway has confirmed the services will temporarily operate from Maninagar, Asarva and Vatva stations. The diversion, lasting until 12 September 2025, supports the redevelopment of Ahmedabad’s main terminal into a modern, sustainable transport hub.
The disruption, while temporary, marks a pivotal step in the Railway Land Development Authority’s (RLDA) long-term plan to modernise the Ahmedabad station. The redevelopment includes piling works, a new concourse and overbridge construction on Platform No. 8, designed to improve accessibility, passenger capacity and operational flexibility. According to Indian Railways officials, this is part of the broader National Rail Plan to build world-class, eco-conscious transport infrastructure across India’s urban nodes. Among the affected services is the popular 12932 Ahmedabad – Mumbai Central AC Double Decker Express, which from 7 July will begin its journey from Maninagar at 5.50 am. Similarly, the 12655 Navjivan Express to Chennai will now depart from Asarva at 9.05 pm from 5 July. The Gujarat Queen (19034) headed for Valsad will also begin its trip from Maninagar from the same date at 6.20 pm.
Terminating trains are also being rerouted. The return Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad AC Double Decker Express will now end at Vatva station by 9.20 pm starting 5 July. Likewise, the Chennai–Ahmedabad Navjivan Express will terminate at Asarva, while the Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Gujarat Superfast Express will conclude at Vatva at 2.30 pm. Though these stations — Maninagar, Asarva and Vatva — are located within city limits, they currently lack the integrated public transport connections of the Kalupur station, which serves as Ahmedabad’s primary transit hub. This relocation may pose short-term logistical challenges for daily commuters, especially those without private transport or unfamiliar with the city’s peripheral areas.
However, officials stress that the decision is crucial to sustain long-term benefits. The RLDA’s plan not only focuses on aesthetics or modernity but is rooted in climate-conscious engineering, pedestrian-centric design and energy-efficient architecture — all aligned with the government’s Smart Cities Mission and its vision of a net-zero urban footprint. The upgraded station is set to feature green building certifications, solar-powered amenities, and advanced waste management systems. Additionally, it promises barrier-free movement for all genders and abilities, in line with India’s evolving push for equitable and accessible city infrastructure.
Railway authorities also announced that select trains may temporarily halt at Sabarmati station instead of Ahmedabad Kalupur, with altered timings. The objective is to redistribute passenger load, reduce platform congestion, and ensure the safety of construction workers and commuters alike. Despite the inconvenience, civic planners and sustainability advocates believe this move represents a crucial inflection point in how Indian cities adapt their core infrastructure in response to population growth, carbon challenges and multimodal integration.
For Ahmedabad, one of India’s fastest-growing urban economies, the project is more than just a station facelift. It’s part of a larger pivot towards a cleaner, more inclusive and commuter-friendly future — where stations double up as public spaces, commercial hubs, and climate-resilient infrastructures. Rail experts say such phased redevelopment, although temporarily disruptive, is necessary for India to meet its decarbonisation targets while enhancing mobility. With the country’s passenger traffic projected to double by 2030, India’s ageing railway infrastructure must evolve not just for capacity but also sustainability.
In the long run, rerouting services to nearby stations could help decentralise Ahmedabad’s transport ecosystem. This may encourage city planners to invest more evenly in developing suburban nodes like Vatva and Asarva, fostering transit-oriented growth beyond the congested Kalupur corridor. The Western Railway has appealed to passengers to check revised timings and plan journeys accordingly. Additional local transport arrangements are reportedly being worked out, but exact details remain awaited. The situation will likely test the readiness of the Ahmedabad Urban Transport System to accommodate spillovers from the central station’s temporary inaccessibility. With over 60,000 passengers using the Kalupur station daily, the coming months will reflect how effectively the city can balance redevelopment with real-time service delivery.
In the end, while the short-term rerouting might feel like an inconvenience, it is part of a larger, necessary leap towards a smarter, greener and more inclusive Ahmedabad. For now, passengers are urged to stay informed and patient as the city’s backbone of connectivity undergoes its most ambitious transformation yet.
