Sabarmati railway station’s Rs 335-crore redevelopment is 85% complete and is expected to be ready by December-end, positioning the Ahmedabad station as a major interchange between conventional rail, the Metro and the high-speed rail network.
The redeveloped complex will connect with the Sabarmati and AEC Metro stations as well as the high-speed rail station. The links are intended to make transfers between different transport modes easier for passengers and strengthen Sabarmati’s role within Ahmedabad’s wider public transport network.
The project covers two railway facilities: Sabarmati BG, which will have seven platforms, and Sabarmati SBT, located towards Sabarmati Jail, which will have three platforms. Each station is planned to have three foot-over bridges. Passenger circulation will also be supported by 28 lifts and 28 escalators, according to officials cited in the report.
Accessibility features are being incorporated into the station design, including Braille, guide and warning tiles and accessible ticket counters for persons with disabilities. These facilities are intended to improve movement through the station for passengers with different mobility and access requirements.
A two-storey holding area covering around 86,000 sq ft is also being developed. It will accommodate more than 10,000 passengers and is expected to help manage large crowds during festivals. The station currently handles more than 35,000 passengers a day. Nineteen trains originate from Sabarmati, while 22 trains pass through the station.
The redevelopment is also adding technology and energy-related systems. Integrated CCTV, a supervisory control and data acquisition system, a building management system and real-time passenger information are planned for the station. A 1,300 kW solar power plant has been proposed, and the station is planned as an Indian Green Building Council gold-rated green building.
The East Wing of the main station building is largely complete. Unreserved Ticketing System, Passenger Reservation System and ticket counters are operational there, while the waiting hall has been shifted to the wing. These operational changes are allowing parts of the station to continue serving passengers as work progresses across the larger redevelopment site.
Once completed, the station’s performance will depend not only on the new buildings and passenger facilities but also on how effectively the different transport systems connect at ground level. The December-end target remains the next major milestone for the Rs 335-crore project.
