Ahmedabad Junction railway station (station code: ADI), commonly known as Kalupur railway station, is the main railway station of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It is also the biggest railway station within Gujarat and also one of the major railway station in India. It is the highest income-generating division in Western Railways. It connects to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Howrah and other major cities of India. Also it is central railway station of Gujarat which connects to Saurashtra, Kutch, Vadodara, Surat, Himmatnagar, Palanpur, etc.[citation needed]
1866 engraving of two minarets now adjacent to the station
On the north side of the station are the two tallest minarets in Ahmedabad, the only remnant of Sidi Bashir Mosque.
Background
Ahmedabad Junction is the primary station of rail transport for the city of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, India and an important center of the Western Railways zone of the Indian Railways. Locally, people refer to it as Kalupur Station (as it is situated in the Kalupur area of the walled city) to distinguish it from other stations in the city.
It contains total 12 platforms in which platform number 10, 11, 12 are closed due to Ahmedabad-Mumbai high speed bullet train and 16 tracks. It serves trains that connect Ahmedabad to different parts of Gujarat, as well as major Indian cities.[citation needed]
The station has 12 platforms. There are an ample numbers of tea stalls, snack bars, medical shops, and enquiry desks. The station also has one cybercafe which is run by Tata Indicom and is currently equipped with Wi-Fi by Google Station and RailTel. The station is undergoing large-scale automation to make it a technologically advanced station, and new ATM outlets from ICICI Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Dena Bank, Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India, and other major banks have been installed. RailTel plans to open a cyber cafe in Ahmedabad Station.
Facilities
Ahmedabad Railway station has launched hand-push luggage trolley services at Ahmedabad railway station. Such trolleys are always available at airports, but for railway stations, it is a new initiative. The Railways will initially charge Rs 5 per luggage trolley from commuters. As of 2010, the service was available only for Platform no.1, but after new elevators and escalators become functional by the end of 2010, the trolley service would be introduced at all platforms of Ahmedabad railway station.[citation needed]
Recent days, IRCTC has launched its VIP class executive lounge on platform 1 for passengers to spend their waiting time on economy rates which offers free wifi, urinals, AC, news paper, recliners and foods.[6]
This project, with an estimated cost of ₹2,400 crore, aims to transform the station into a modern transport hub, incorporating architectural elements inspired by local heritage, such as the Modhera Sun Temple and Adalaj Stepwell. The redesign plans include the construction of an open space Amphitheatre and architectural nods to the city's historical sites, aiming to enhance passenger amenities and preserve the station's cultural significance. [8]
Expected to complete within 36 months, the project will introduce an elevated road network and a multi-modal transport facility, reflecting efforts to accommodate future traffic and passenger needs up to the year 2060. The redevelopment was officially initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a virtual ground-breaking ceremony on February 26. This effort represents a key infrastructure upgrade for Gujarat, seeking to balance modern requirements with heritage conservation. [9]