Indian Railways announces 36 day traffic block at Chandigarh station from September 10

Northern Railway is implementing a major traffic block at Chandigarh Railway Station for station redevelopment work. Passengers must check their schedules carefully before planning any journey through this station during the autumn period.

Key details of the Chandigarh station traffic block:
- 36-day traffic and power block scheduled from September 10 to October 15, 2026.
- Work divided into three 12-day phases: Phase I (Sept 10-21), Phase II (Sept 22-Oct 3), and Phase III (Oct 4-Oct 15).
- Project managed by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) with a total investment of ₹462 crore.
- 12 train services completely cancelled, affecting 442 individual trips between September 9 and October 16.
- Platform changes for 76 trains and several services short-terminated or short-originated at Ambala Cantt or Mohali.

Redevelopment and Operational Changes

The ongoing upgradation project at Chandigarh station is currently progressing rapidly with completion levels estimated between 75% and 91%. Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu have previously inspected the site. The upcoming block is critical to safely install a massive through-roof structure and dismantle existing foot-over-bridge (FOB) girders within the strict 36-day deadline set by the Ambala Division, led by Divisional Railway Manager Vinod Bhatia.

Train operations will see notable shifts. For instance, the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011) will shift from Platform 1 to Platform 5 between October 4 and October 15, while the Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express (12012) will move to Platform 3 during the same final phase. Other prominent services including the Vande Bharat pair (20977/78) and the Howrah-Kalka Mail (13051/13052) will also experience operational adjustments.

Passenger Assistance and Safety

To assist commuters during this transition, additional RPF and commercial staff have been deployed across platforms. Railway authorities strongly advise all travellers to verify their updated train status through the NTES app, the Rail Madad helpline at 139, or local station enquiry counters before heading to the station.