After years of legal fight and back and forth between citizens concerned, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Railways over the protection of monuments located within the premises of the Ahmedabad Railway Station, specifically the brick minarets that are smack dab in the heart of the station next to platform number 1, the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) has integrated the heritage structures into the redevelopment plan.
While one petition pertaining to the railway pit lines built within the 100 metres of prohibited zone of the bricks minarets is still pending in the Gujarat High Court, the RLDA appears to have cautiously decided to avoid any other contention by giving the monument a wide berth in the part of the redevelopment plan titled ‘Integrated Development Around Centrally Protected Monuments (Brick Minarets and Shaking Minarets)’. The design leaves a circular area open around the prohibited zone, which will turn into a pedestrian plaza in what Sudhir Kumar Sharma, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ahmedabad, defined as “Viraasat bhi, aur Vikas bhi” (development while cherishing heritage). To ensure that the prohibited zone is completely left untouched, even the six-lane elevated road network that has been planned above the existing main road in front of the railway station makes a semicircular turn in front of the brick minarets.
Giving details, Sharma said, “We want development in line with the heritage. We have ensured there will be no construction around the prohibited area of the bricks minarets. It will be developed as a pedestrian plaza where people can come and go. The station is not just for passengers.. It is a social place. The brick minarets will remain intact.”
Speaking further on the circular construction exclusion zone around the brick minarets, Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Project Manager (CPM) of the RLDA for the Ahmedabad station redevelopment, said, “We are carrying out this development under the supervision of the ASI to protect the brick minarets. We are keeping an open plaza of around 37,515 square metres all around the minarets where people will be able to enjoy, relax and see the monument.” Notably, Munaf Ahmed Mullaji, President of the Waqf Protection Committee in Ahmedabad, had filed a Special Civil Application in the High Court in 2018, seeking action against the railway authorities for construction of the railway pit line right next to the brick minarets, which is a centrally protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. While this petition remains subjudice in the HC, the matter was last heard on February 12, 2020
More recently, in September, Mullaji said he had sent legal notices to the ASI and the DRM of Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway (WR) asking them “to take appropriate steps to stop illegal construction within prohibited area of brick minarets situated near the Ahmedabad Railway Station, a centrally protected monument, and take legal action against the offenders.”
Dr Shubha Majumder, Superintending Archeologist of Vadodara Circle of the ASI, declined to comment on the matter.
Elevated road network to ease traffic on Kalupur main road
Apart from the integration of multiple modes of transport inside the railway station, including Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro and High Speed Rail (Bullet Train), the redevelopment of Ahmedabad Railway Station will also see integration of city-level transport from the Multi-Modal Transit Hub (MMTH). The docking space will be given to the BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) and AMTS (Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service) public transport systems as well as auto rickshaws and taxis.
One of the main aims here is also to reduce traffic congestion on the Kalupur main road, which has become considerably problematic over the years due to space restrictions on the old city of Ahmedabad.
To belay this problem, the RLDA said that an 8.5 km elevated road network will be constructed between the earlier announced Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) that are coming up on the Kalupur and Sarangpur sides of the railway station.
Sharing details at a press conference on Wednesday, CPM Sanjeev Kumar said, “With regard to the Kalupur road traffic congestion, we are planning ahead for 2060. We have planned a network of elevated roadways that will join the Kalupur ROB and the Sarangpur ROB being built on both sides of the railway station. It will start at Kalupur chowk, and will be a six-lane flyover, over the current road, which will also be connected to the MMTH building – the main station building – and then merge into the Sarangpur ROB with an official ramp on the other end.” When the redevelopment is complete, the Metro will be at the -10 metre level, the railway lines will be at ground level and the High Speed Rail will be at the +10 metres level with access to all modes from inside and outside the station premises, said officials. Expanding on this, DRM Sharma said, “We want a wider road. Secondly, we are segregating road traffic into two parts, one at ground level and the other on the elevated road network that will drop people at concourse level on the elevated road that joins both ROBs. We are trying to bring all transport modes together to reduce traffic. The integration will also help decrease traffic when people don’t have to leave the premises to go from one mode of transport to another. This will also increase use of public transport. There are drop off points on both sides of the station from which you can enter the metro, high speed or railway.”
Additional amenities
Apart from the fact that the number of railway tracks will be increased from nine, at present, to a total of 12, an RLDA official said that while the current railway station can handle 1.2 lakh passengers per day, the long term plan is to accommodate a daily footfall of 3.10 lakh passengers per day from the premises, which is expected by the year 2053. Officials added that in place of only one lift and one escalator on each platform at the moment, the figure will be increased to four each plus staircases on each platform.
Two tunnels under the station for parcel movement and parking will be increased to accommodate 3,316 cars. “We will have separate departure and arrival areas like airports. Arrivals need not enter the station but directly go towards the metro and bullet or out of the station,” said Sanjeev Kumar. Officials claimed that not a single train had been cancelled or diverted till now.
No injuries or accidents had also taken place during the redevelopment so far.
The tender for the redevelopment was awarded to M/s Dineshchandra-DMRC JV on November 3, 2023.
The cost of the redevelopment is Rs 2,383 crore and is supposed to be completed in 36 months. DRM Sharma said, “We are on schedule and will finish the work in 2027.”
