Ahmedabad Kalupur railway station has opened a new entry route from its southern redevelopment building to Platform 1, but passengers currently have to climb about 72 steps to reach the platform area because lifts and escalators are not yet operational, according to a report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad.
The new access has been introduced from the Saraspur-side Gate 2 area as work on the station redevelopment progresses. The reservation counter and cloak room have also been shifted to the new building, giving passengers access to ticket-booking and luggage-storage facilities at the redeveloped premises.
The new building is part of the wider station redevelopment project and is being prepared in connection with the bullet train infrastructure planned on the Saraspur side. Before the existing entry is closed in the coming days, the staircase from the building has been opened for passenger use, the report said.
At present, passengers entering through the bullet train building must climb the staircase to reach the station’s roof plaza. From there, they have to proceed towards the foot overbridge before accessing the platform they need. This creates an additional walking route in addition to the 72-step climb.
The temporary arrangement is expected to be particularly difficult for senior citizens, women, elderly passengers and people carrying heavy luggage. The report said that lifts and escalators have not yet started operating, although these facilities are expected to provide relief once they are commissioned.
The opening of the southern entry is intended to provide an alternative route as redevelopment work changes passenger circulation inside the station. The relocation of the reservation counter and cloak room also means that passengers using those facilities will have to reach the new building rather than the earlier locations.
Ahmedabad Kalupur is being redeveloped with the stated objective of improving passenger movement and reducing congestion within and around the station. The creation of new entry and exit routes is also expected to help manage vehicle movement and traffic near the station, according to the report.
However, the current access arrangement means that improved circulation will depend partly on the completion and commissioning of vertical-transport facilities. Until the lifts and escalators become operational, passengers using the new building will continue to rely on the staircase and the connecting route to the foot overbridge.
The immediate next step is the start of lift and escalator services in the redeveloped building, after which passengers are expected to have a more accessible route between the new entry and the station platforms.
