The Reason for the Mega Block
The Northern Railway's Ambala Division has scheduled a major power and traffic block from September 10 to October 15 to facilitate the redevelopment of Chandigarh Railway Station. This work is being carried out by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA)
and involves crucial infrastructure upgrades, including the erection of a new through-roof structure and the dismantling of an old foot-overbridge. To minimize the impact, the 36-day block is divided into three 12-day phases, with different sets of railway lines and platforms affected in each stage.
Phase-Wise Breakdown of Work
The construction work will impact different parts of the station sequentially. From September 10 to 21, lines 6, 7, and 8 will be affected. The focus will then shift to lines 4 and 5 from September 22 to October 3. Finally, from October 4 to 15, work will be conducted on lines 1, 2, and 3. This phased approach allows a part of the station to remain operational throughout the entire period, but it means passengers must remain alert to frequent changes.
Fully Cancelled Train Services
Throughout the block period, a total of 12 train services will remain completely cancelled, affecting hundreds of individual trips. Passengers who regularly use these services will need to find alternative travel arrangements. The cancelled trains include key routes connecting Chandigarh with Amritsar, Ferozepur, Delhi, and Kalka. Among the major services cancelled are the Chandigarh-Amritsar Express (14541/14542), Chandigarh-Ferozepur Express (14629/14630), and the Delhi-Kalka Express (14331/14332).
Short-Terminated and Diverted Trains
Many trains that usually pass through or terminate at Chandigarh will be short-terminated or diverted. Six train pairs will now terminate or originate from Ambala Cantt instead of Chandigarh on specific dates. This list includes popular services like the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath (12983/12984) and the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express (20989/20990). Passengers with bookings on these trains will have to make their own way between Chandigarh and Ambala. Additionally, some services like the Lalkuan-Amritsar Express (14615/14616) will be diverted via Sirhind on certain days, skipping Chandigarh and Mohali altogether.
Changes at Mohali and Platform Shuffles
To ease the congestion caused by the block, Railways has designated Mohali station as a temporary stop for eight long-distance trains, including the Amritsar-Dehradun Express (14631/14632). This will provide some relief for passengers. However, commuters will also need to contend with significant platform changes at Chandigarh station itself. Across the three phases, a total of 76 trains will berth at different platforms than their usual schedule. This includes prominent trains like the Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat services, whose platforms will be changed during the final phase of the block.
How to Stay Informed
Given the scale and duration of these disruptions, passengers are strongly advised not to assume their train's schedule or platform is operating as normal. Before starting their journey, travelers should verify the latest information. The most reliable sources for real-time updates are the official National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app and the Rail Madad helpline number, 139. Station announcements and electronic display boards will also provide the most current information on platform changes and train timings. Additional railway staff will be deployed to assist passengers during this period.
