36-day rail block in Chandigarh: 442 trips off, Shatabdi platforms to change

Passengers in Chandigarh will face significant disruptions as the railway station shuts down for 36 consecutive days from September 10 to October 15. The shutdown is due to power and traffic blocks, leading to numerous train cancellations, partial cancellations, and platform changes. The railway has divided the work into three phases, each lasting 12 days. Over 400 train trips will be affected during this period.

Key affected routes include those connecting Chandigarh with Delhi, Kalka, Ambala, and other destinations. Several major services, including the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011), will have to change their berthing platforms. For instance, the train will move from Platform 1 to Platform 5 during the final 12-day phase.

The Ramnagar-Chandigarh-Ramnagar service will be short-terminated and short-originated at Ambala, affecting passengers who rely on this route. Similarly, the Ajmer-Chandigarh-Ajmer Garib Rath (12983/12984) and Udaipur-Chandigarh-Udaipur services (20989/20990) will also be impacted, with some services being short-terminated at Ambala.

To manage the increased passenger flow, the railway plans to add temporary stops at Mohali for select trains. Passengers will need to check train status before departure, as platform changes and cancellations can lead to significant delays and travel time increases. Essential services such as the Chandigarh-Amritsar-Chandigarh Express, Chandigarh-Firozpur-Chandigarh Express, and others will be cancelled during the period, adding to the inconvenience faced by the public.