Ahmedabad Kalupur Railway Station has opened a new entry route from its southern redevelopment building towards Platform 1, but passengers currently have to climb about 72 steps because the lift and escalator facilities are not yet operational. The temporary arrangement is expected to create difficulties for senior citizens, women, elderly passengers and people carrying luggage.
The new access has been introduced from the building being developed towards the Saraspur side of the station. The reservation counter and cloak room have also been shifted to the new building, giving passengers an alternative location for ticket booking and baggage storage as redevelopment work continues.
The staircase is part of the main building being constructed for the bullet train project. It has been opened before the existing entry route is closed in the coming days. From the building, passengers must climb to the station’s roof plaza and then proceed towards the foot overbridge. They can use the foot overbridge to reach the platform they require.
This means the new route provides an alternative entry, but it currently adds both a vertical climb and extra movement through the station. The absence of an operational lift or escalator is particularly significant at a major railway station where passengers may be carrying bags, travelling with children or require step-free access.
According to the report, the lift and escalator facilities are expected to begin operating in the coming days. Until then, passengers using the new building will have to rely on the staircase to reach the roof plaza before continuing towards the foot overbridge and platforms.
The new entry, reservation counter and cloak room form part of the broader redevelopment of Ahmedabad Kalupur Railway Station. The redevelopment is intended to organise passenger movement and reduce crowding within the station. The new entry and exit arrangements are also expected to help reduce vehicle congestion and traffic-related problems around the station.
For passengers, however, the immediate experience will depend on how quickly the vertical-access facilities are commissioned. The next operational milestone is the start of the lift and escalator services, after which the 72-step route is expected to become less burdensome for those accessing the platforms from the new building.
