Railways mull stopping 35 trains to Udhna to ease Surat Station’s burden

Surat: The Surat Railway Station is facing challenges with heavy train and passenger traffic, accommodating over 1.75 lakh passengers daily. To address this, the Union government is developing railway stations around Surat, with a focus on Udhna station. As Udhna has undergone significant development, a proposal is being considered to redirect 35 trains from Surat to Udhna.

In 1952, Surat city’s population was not even 2.5 lakh, and the current estimated population of Surat is 75 lakh, and more than 200 trains pass through Surat railway station daily. Over 1.75 lakh passengers travel through Surat Railway Station each day, which has only four platforms. The existing infrastructure is insufficient to handle this situation, preventing the introduction of new trains and necessitating the consideration of redirecting trains to ease the load on Surat Railway Station.

There is a proposal to redirect trains from eastern-northeastern states to Udhna, with 35 trains currently stopping at Surat station being evaluated for the change. After stopping at Udhna, the Railway Headquarters will determine whether these trains should continue to stop at Surat or be diverted from Surat Railway Station.

Additionally, Bhestan Railway Station is undergoing development, with plans for some trains from North India and East India to stop there. This would benefit migrants in Pandesara, Udhna, Dindoli, Limbayat, Godadara, Sachin, and Bhestan areas, reducing the need to travel to Surat railway station. Presently, Udhna railway station has two new platforms, and one more is in the process of being built.

The redirection of trains is expected to ease parking problems and traffic congestion at Surat Railway Station. Udhna’s ongoing development, including the construction of new platforms, further supports its potential as a viable alternative. Udhna railway station currently caters to over 20 thousand passengers daily. DeshGujarat