Ahmedabad in brief
Ahmedabad railway station, officially Ahmedabad Junction (station code ADI) and known locally as Kalupur railway station after the old-city neighbourhood it stands in, is the busiest station in Gujarat. It falls within the Western Railway zone and is the main station of the Ahmedabad division. Trains from here run to Mumbai, Delhi, Rajasthan, Saurashtra, Kutch and across India.
The story of Ahmedabad
The station opened on 20 January 1863. Before Partition, Ahmedabad was a stop for the Sindh Mail, which ran through to Hyderabad in Sindh (now in Pakistan), a reminder of how far the network reached in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The station building was constructed by Gokuldas Contractor and Associates.
The shaking minarets next door
One of Ahmedabad's most curious monuments stands right beside the station. The Jhulta Minara, or shaking minarets, are a pair of minarets built so that when one is shaken, the other vibrates too, while the connecting structure stays still. Engineers have never fully explained the effect. The best-known pair belongs to the Sidi Bashir Mosque, traditionally dated to the 15th century. The mosque itself was destroyed in a Maratha attack in 1753, but the minarets survived, and they are one of the city's most popular heritage sights for visitors arriving by train.
Platforms at Ahmedabad
Trains use 12 platforms on 16 tracks, around 53 m above sea level. Three platforms have been closed during construction work for the high-speed rail project.
Redevelopment and the bullet train
Ahmedabad Junction is being rebuilt in a ₹2,400 crore project by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and DRA Infracon, planned over about 36 months. Its design draws on two of Gujarat's best-known monuments, the Modhera Sun Temple and the Adalaj stepwell, and includes an elevated road network, a multi-modal transport hub and an open-air amphitheatre.
Next to the station, the Ahmedabad station of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail project (the bullet train) is under construction, which will make Kalupur a major high-speed rail interchange.
Services from Ahmedabad
- Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express (22961/22962)
- Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express (12009/12010)
- Rajdhani and many express trains to Delhi, Rajasthan, Saurashtra and South India
Mumbai Vande Bharat and Shatabdi timings are on the train timings page.
Links around Ahmedabad
- Ahmedabad Metro: Kalupur Railway Station metro station on the Blue Line.
- Buses: Janmarg BRTS and AMTS city buses.
- Road: autorickshaws and taxis on both the Kalupur and Saraspur sides.
Kalupur pointers
- Redevelopment means entrances and walkways change from time to time; allow extra time and follow the signs.
- A VIP executive lounge operates on platform 1.
- The shaking minarets near the station make a good half-hour visit if you arrive early for a train.