Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday reviewed the progress of Ahmedabad Railway Station redevelopment and the Bullet train project at Anand in Gujarat. During a day-long visit to Gujarat, the minister went to Ahmedabad Railway Station with senior officials of the Western Railway Zone and inspected the construction work in detail.

“The design and appearance of the station will reflect the culture and heritage of Ahmedabad,” Vaishnaw said, adding that he expects the redevelopment work to be finished in three-and-a-half years. According to the Western Railway, the redevelopment work of Ahmedabad station was awarded in November 2023 and it is targeted to be completed by June 2027.

Vaishnaw said several innovations have been made for the Ahmedabad railway station redevelopment project, and special care is being taken to ensure that the facility’s design reflects the city’s rich heritage. Vaishnaw, who reviewed the redevelopment project, said architectural elements inspired by the city’s heritage, such as the ‘Jhulta Minar’ (swaying minaret), kite festival, etc, will be incorporated into the design.

He said this approach was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to preserve the cultural fabric of modern India. The redevelopment is a part of the Indian Railways’ ambitious Amrut Bharat station project, which aims to transform over 1,300 railway stations across the country.

Vaishnaw said the station’s design was revised after considering representations from Ahmedabad residents to include aspects of the city’s heritage.

“The representations were discussed in detail, and the station design was completely revised according to the city’s architecture. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also reviewed this. The prime minister has given us one guidance, the station should be made according to the city culture,” he said.

Reiterating the Centre’s commitment to the development of Gujarat, the minister said a record budget of `17,155 Crore was allocated to the state for the development of the railways, and an investment of `1.27 Lakh Crore is being made in the sector.

The Western Railway also said the architecture of the upcoming Ahmedabad station building has been inspired by the Modhera Sun Temple. According to it, a 15-acre concourse plaza and a seven-acre mezzanine plaza have been planned over the railway tracks. “This concourse shall have a waiting area for passengers which will be equipped with facilities like toilets, drinking water, food courts, retail shops, kiosks and baby feeding rooms, among others.”

After reviewing the station, Vaishnaw visited a 200-m-long steel bridge for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. It will be launched over National Highway 48 near Nadiad. Vaishnaw said the girder of the bridge was made in India with its fabrication components successfully completed at the Salasar plant in Hapur.