After years of legal battles and back-and-forth between concerned citizens, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Railways have taken up the preservation of the monuments located on the premises of the Ahmedabad railway station, especially the brick towers that are crumbling at the heart. Of the station adjacent to Platform No. 1, the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) has integrated heritage structures into the redevelopment. Plan.
While a petition regarding railway pit lines constructed within 100 meters of the prohibited area of brick minarets is still pending in the Gujarat High Court, the RLDA seems to have cautiously decided to avoid any further controversy by giving the monument a wide berth. Part of the redevelopment plan is ‘Integrated development around the central protected monument (brick minarets and shaky minarets)’. The design leaves open a circular area around the restricted area, which will be transformed into a pedestrian plaza in what Sudhir Kumar Sharma, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ahmedabad defined as “Virasat bhi, aur vikas bhi” (development while nurturing heritage). . To ensure that the restricted area remains completely untouched, an elevated road network of six lanes has been planned above the main road located in front of the railway station, also forming a semicircular bend in front of the brick towers.
Giving information, Sharma said, ‘We want development in accordance with the heritage. We have ensured that there is no construction around the prohibited area of brick towers. It will be developed as a pedestrian plaza where people can move around. The station is not just for commuters. It is a social place. The brick towers will remain intact.”
Speaking further about the circular construction exclusion zone around the brick minar, Sanjeev Kumar, RLDA’s Chief Project Manager (CPM) for Ahmedabad station redevelopment said, “We are doing this development under the supervision of ASI to protect the brick minar. We have an open area of 37,515 square meters around the minar. We have a plaza where people can enjoy, relax and look at the memorial.” Notably, Ahmedabad’s Waqf Preservation Committee chairman Munaf Ahmed Mullaji had filed a special civil application in the High Court in 2018, seeking action against the railway authorities for constructing a railway pit line near the brick towers under the Central Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 As protected monument. While this petition is pending in HC, it was last heard on February 12, 2020
Recently, in September, Mullaji said he had sent legal notices to the ASI and DRM of the Ahmedabad division of the Western Railway (WR) to “take appropriate steps to stop the illegal construction of brick towers located within the restricted area near the Ahmedabad railway station, a centrally protected monument, and take legal action against the perpetrators.
ASI’s Vadodara circle superintending archaeologist Dr Shubha Majumdar declined to comment on the matter.
Elevated road network to facilitate vehicular movement on the main road of Kalupur
Apart from integration of multiple modes of transport within the railway station, including Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro and High Speed Rail (bullet train), the redevelopment of Ahmedabad railway station will also see the integration of city-level transport from a multi-modal transit hub. (MMTH). Docking space will be given to 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 objectives here is also to reduce traffic congestion on the Kalupur main road, which has been very problematic over the years due to space constraints in the old city of Ahmedabad.
To mitigate this problem, the RLDA has said that an 8.5 km elevated road network will be constructed between the already announced Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) coming up on the Kalupur and Sarangpur sides of the railway station.
Sharing the details at a press conference on Wednesday, CPM Sanjeev Kumar said, “Regarding the Kalupur road traffic jam, we are planning for 2060. We have planned a network of elevated roadways connecting Kalupur ROB and Sarangpur ROB. Built on either side of the railway station. It will start from Kalupur Chowk, and will have a six-lane flyover on the existing road, which will also connect to MMTH Bhawan – Main Station Bhawan and then merge into Sarangpur ROB with an official ramp at the other. End.” When the redevelopment is complete, the Metro will be at -10m level, the railway lines will be at ground level and the High Speed Rail station will be at +10m level with access to all modes in and out of the premises. Officials said. Elaborating on this, DRM Sharma said, ‘ We want a wider road. Secondly, we are dividing the road traffic into two parts, one at the ground level and the other at the elevated road network connecting people to both the ROBs at the concourse level. We are trying to bring all the transport modes together to reduce the traffic when people don’t have to leave the premises to go from one mode to another. There are drop off points on both sides of the station. Can enter high speed or rail.”
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Apart from the fact that the number of existing railway tracks will be increased from nine to a total of 12, an RLDA official said that the current railway station can handle 1.2 lakh passengers per day, accommodating the long-term plan. Daily traffic from the complex is estimated to reach 3.1 million passengers by 2053. Instead of only one lift and escalator in each, officials added. In the present platform, each platform will have four and the number of stairs will be increased.
The two tunnels under the station will be expanded to accommodate 3,316 cars for parcel traffic and parking. “We will have a separate departure and arrival zone like an airport. The arrivals need not enter the station but go directly towards Metro and Bullet or out of the station,” said Sanjeev Kumar. Officials claimed that not a single train has been canceled or diverted so far.
So far, no injuries or accidents have occurred during the redevelopment.
The tender for redevelopment was awarded to M/s Dinesh Chandra-DMRC JV on November 3, 2023.
The cost of the redevelopment is Rs 2,383 crore and is expected to be completed in 36 months. DRM Sharma said, ‘We are on schedule and will complete the work in 2027.