Why the Major Disruption?
Indian Railways has scheduled a prolonged 36-day power and traffic block at Chandigarh Railway Station from September 10 to October 15. This major undertaking is necessary for the redevelopment of the station, which is being handled by the Rail Land Development
Authority (RLDA). The core tasks include erecting a new through-roof structure and dismantling the old foot-over-bridge girders. To minimise the impact, the work has been divided into three 12-day phases, with each phase targeting different railway lines and platforms within the station. While causing short-term inconvenience, this project is a critical step towards modernising the station and improving its capacity and safety for the future.
The Direct Impact: Bypassing Chandigarh
The most significant change for travellers is that dozens of train services will not stop at Chandigarh at all. A total of 54 train trips are being 'short-terminated' or 'short-originated' at Ambala Cantonment station on specific dates during the block. This means passengers booked to Chandigarh on these services will have to deboard at Ambala, and those starting their journey from Chandigarh will need to travel to Ambala to catch their train. Key affected services include the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath and the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express. Additionally, some trains, like two services of the Lalkuan-Amritsar Express, will be diverted entirely via Sirhind, skipping both Chandigarh and Mohali.
What This Means for Connecting Passengers
Chandigarh is a vital transit hub for travellers heading to Himachal Pradesh and other parts of Punjab. This disruption poses a major challenge for these connecting passengers. With many trains now terminating at Ambala, passengers will need to arrange for alternative transport, like buses or taxis, for the journey between Ambala and Chandigarh. This adds an extra leg to the journey, increasing travel time and cost. To ease some of the pressure, the railways have announced temporary additional stops at Mohali (SAS Nagar) for eight long-distance trains, including the Amritsar-Dehradun Express. However, the bulk of the passenger load will be displaced to Ambala, requiring careful advance planning.
Cancellations and Platform Changes to Note
Beyond the diversions, twelve train services have been cancelled for the entire 36-day period, affecting 442 individual trips. These include crucial routes connecting Chandigarh with Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kalka, and Delhi. Even for trains that are still running, passengers must be vigilant about platform changes. During the three phases of the block, dozens of trains, including popular services like the Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat, will operate from different platforms than usual. In the first phase alone (September 10-21), berthing for 20 trains will be changed.
Your Checklist Before You Travel
Given the scale of the disruption, assuming your travel plans are unaffected is not an option. Before heading to the station, it is essential to check the latest status of your train. Passengers are strongly advised to use the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app, the Rail Madad helpline (139), or check with station enquiry counters for the most current information on cancellations, timings, and platform allocations. If your train is short-terminated at Ambala, factor in the extra time and cost needed for the onward journey to Chandigarh. For those with flexible plans, exploring bus services or rescheduling travel until after October 15 might be the most stress-free option.
