Why the Major Disruption?
The extensive changes are necessary for the ongoing redevelopment and upgradation of the Chandigarh railway station. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) is undertaking significant infrastructure work, which includes erecting a new through-roof
structure and dismantling the girders of the existing foot overbridge (FOB). To ensure safety and facilitate the heavy construction, a prolonged block is unavoidable. The work has been divided into three 12-day phases to minimise the impact, with different lines and platforms affected in each stage. This phased approach allows parts of the station to remain functional while construction is underway on other sections. The entire block will last from September 10 to October 15.
Phase-by-Phase Breakdown
The 36-day block is structured in three phases to manage the construction work systematically. Phase I will run from September 10 to September 21, affecting lines 6, 7, and 8. Phase II is scheduled from September 22 to October 3, during which work will focus on lines 4 and 5. The final phase, Phase III, will take place from October 4 to October 15, impacting lines 1, 2, and 3. Passengers should note that platform allocations for dozens of trains, including popular services like the Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat, will change throughout these periods.
Completely Cancelled Trains
During this 36-day period, a total of 12 train services will be completely cancelled, affecting hundreds of individual trips. This will impact daily commuters and long-distance travellers on key routes. Major cancellations include the Chandigarh-Amritsar Express and the Chandigarh-Firozpur Express. Other affected services are the Ambala-Kalka passenger train, the Kalka-Delhi Express, the Ambala-Jalandhar City passenger, and the Ambala-Daulatpur Chowk service. Passengers who have booked tickets on these trains are advised to seek refunds or make alternative travel arrangements.
Short-Terminated and Diverted Services
Many trains that usually pass through or terminate at Chandigarh will be short-terminated or short-originated at Ambala Cantt. This means passengers will have to arrange their own transport between Ambala and Chandigarh. Affected services include the Ramnagar-Chandigarh Express, Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath, and the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express on specific dates throughout the block period. Additionally, some trains will be diverted entirely, bypassing Chandigarh. For instance, the Lalkuan-Amritsar Express will be rerouted via Ambala-Sirhind-Sanehwal on certain dates, skipping Chandigarh and Mohali stations.
What Passengers Should Do
Given the scale of these changes, assuming your train will run as scheduled is not an option. All passengers travelling to, from, or through Chandigarh between September 10 and October 15 are strongly advised to verify their train's status before heading to the station. The most reliable sources for real-time information are the official National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app and website. You can also get updates by calling the Rail Madad helpline at number 139. Station announcements and digital display boards will have the latest information on platform changes, which are expected to be frequent.
Some Relief at Mohali Station
To ease the inconvenience for travellers, Indian Railways has arranged for temporary stops at Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) station for eight long-distance trains. This move is intended to provide an alternative boarding and de-boarding point for passengers in the region. Some of the trains that will get this additional halt include the Sambalpur-Jammu Tawi Express, Amritsar-Dehradun Express, and the Saharsa-Amritsar Jan Sadharan Express. This will help absorb some of the passenger traffic displaced from Chandigarh, but checking which specific trains will halt at Mohali remains essential.
