Chandigarh Junction railway station

Chandigarh Junction
Entrance to the Chandigarh station platform
General information
LocationIndustrial Area 1, Daria, Chandigarh
 India
Coordinates30°42′11″N 76°49′19″E / 30.703°N 76.822°E / 30.703; 76.822
Elevation330.77 metres (1,085.2 ft)
SystemExpress train and Passenger train station
Owned byMinistry of Railways (India)
Operated byIndian Railways
LinesDelhi–Kalka line
Chandigarh–Sahnewal line
Platforms6
Tracks8 broad gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
ConnectionsAuto stand, Taxi stand
Construction
Structure typeAt grade
ParkingYes
Bicycle facilitiesNo
Accessible Available
Other information
StatusFunctioning
Station codeCDG
Zone(s) Northern Railway
Division(s) Ambala
History
Opened1954 (1954)
ElectrifiedYes
Services
Preceding station Indian Railways Following station
Ghaggar
towards Delhi Junction
 Northern Railway zone Chandi Mandir
towards Kalka
Terminus Northern Railway zone SAS Nagar Mohali
towards ?
Location
Chandigarh Junction
Location within Chandigarh
Interactive map

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

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

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)

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

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

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

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "NR Map 2024" (PDF). nr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Chandigarh - How to Reach - By Rail". Chandigarh Administration. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  4. ^ "IR History: Early Days II (1870–1899)". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  5. ^ "New Rail Link". The Tribune. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Chandigarh railway station". makemytrip. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  8. ^ Ajay Deep (18 December 2015). "Chandigarh railway station gets escalators".
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Tribune News Service (11 February 2026). "Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ravneet Bittu review Chandigarh Railway Station overhaul". The Tribune. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Chandigarh Railway Station Redevelopment Progress: World-Class Project" (Press release). Rail Land Development Authority (via YouTube). 31 January 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  12. ^ HT Correspondent (20 September 2025). "October 2025: New deadline for Chandigarh Railway Station revamp". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 6 March 2026. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chandigarh Junction railway station.

Chandigarh travel guide from Wikivoyage


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