Chandigarh Junction railway station
Chandigarh Junction | ||||||||||||||||
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Entrance to the Chandigarh station platform | ||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||
| Location | Industrial Area 1, Daria, Chandigarh | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 30°42′11″N 76°49′19″E / 30.703°N 76.822°E | |||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 330.77 metres (1,085.2 ft) | |||||||||||||||
| System | Express train and Passenger train station | |||||||||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Railways (India) | |||||||||||||||
| Operator | Indian Railways | |||||||||||||||
| Lines | Delhi–Kalka line Chandigarh–Sahnewal line | |||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 8 broad gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Connections | Auto stand, Taxi stand | |||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||
Structure type | At grade | |||||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | |||||||||||||||
Cycle facilities | No | |||||||||||||||
| Accessible | ||||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||
| Status | Functioning | |||||||||||||||
| Station code | CDG | |||||||||||||||
| Zone(s) | Northern Railway | |||||||||||||||
| Division(s) | Ambala | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1954 | |||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||
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Chandigarh Junction railway station (station code: CDG[1]), serves the union territory city of Chandigarh.[2] The station is at an elevation of 330.77 metres (1,085.2 ft). It is 8 Kms from the City Centre of Chandigarh i.e. Sector 17.[3]
History
[edit]The Delhi–Panipat–Ambala–Kalka line was opened in 1891,[4] and the Chandigarh–Sahnewal line (also referred to as Ludhiana–Chandigarh rail link) was inaugurated in 2013.[5]
Ambala–Chandigarh sector was electrified in 1998–99 and Chandigarh–Kalka in 1999–2000.[6]
Amenities
[edit]Chandigarh railway station has computerized reservation facilities, General Railway Police outpost, telephone booths, tourist reception centre, waiting room, retiring room, vegetarian and non-vegetarian refreshment room, and book stall.[7] In 2014, Chandigarh railway station got escalators.[8]
The railway station is 8 km from the city centre. The airport is 7 km. City buses, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available at the station for local transportation.[7]
Redevelopment (2023–2026)
[edit]In January 2023, the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) commenced a comprehensive redevelopment of the Chandigarh Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Designated as a "Lighthouse Project," the ₹462 crore (US$55 million) initiative aims to transform the station into a multimodal transit hub. As of early 2026, the project reached approximately 90% completion, with full operational functionality expected by April 2026.[9][10]
Technical Specifications and Infrastructure
[edit]The redevelopment utilizes a modular design strategy with prefabricated components to minimize disruption to rail operations.[11] Key infrastructure includes:
- Station Buildings (G+3): Two identical, symmetrical station buildings have been constructed on both the Chandigarh and Panchkula sides. Each building is a Ground + 3 (G+3) structure measuring 60m x 42m, covering a built-up area of approximately 8,367 square meters each.
- Air Concourse: A central 72-meter wide and 80-meter long air concourse connects the second floors of both buildings. This elevated plaza serves as a segregated space for departing passengers, featuring retail outlets and food courts.
- Through Roof: A massive canopy spanning 180m x 80m (14,400+ sqm) covers the air concourse and foot overbridges, providing weather protection across all platforms.
- Vertical Circulation: The facility includes 30 lifts and 10 escalators to ensure barrier-free access.
- Foot Overbridges (FOBs): Two new 12-meter wide foot overbridges have been constructed at the Kalka and Ambala ends to streamline the flow of arriving passengers.
Passenger Amenities and Sustainability
[edit]The upgraded facility is designed to handle a projected daily footfall of over 100,000 passengers by 2061.[12]
- Commercial Space: Over 4,000 square meters is dedicated to commercial use, including air-conditioned retiring rooms, paid lounges, and co-working spaces.
- Parking and Traffic: The parking area was expanded from 13,720 sqm to 24,515 sqm, featuring integrated traffic flow designs for auto-rickshaws, private cars, and buses.
- Sustainability: Solar panels with a total capacity of approximately 1,350 kWp have been installed on the platform roofs (Platforms 1 and 6).
References
[edit]- ↑ "Station Code Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. 2023–24. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ↑ "NR Map 2024" (PDF). nr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ↑ "Chandigarh - How to Reach - By Rail". Chandigarh Administration. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ↑ "IR History: Early Days II (1870–1899)". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ↑ "New Rail Link". The Tribune. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ↑ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- 1 2 "Chandigarh railway station". makemytrip. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ↑ Ajay Deep (18 December 2015). "Chandigarh railway station gets escalators".
- ↑ Staff Writer (6 January 2026). "World-class Chandigarh railway station takes shape, full ops likely by April". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ↑ Tribune News Service (11 February 2026). "Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ravneet Bittu review Chandigarh Railway Station overhaul". The Tribune. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ↑ "Chandigarh Railway Station Redevelopment Progress: World-Class Project" (Press release). Rail Land Development Authority (via YouTube). 31 January 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ↑ "October 2025: New deadline for Chandigarh Railway Station revamp". Hindustan Times. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
External links
[edit]- Chandigarh Junction railway station at the India Rail Info
Chandigarh travel guide from Wikivoyage
