Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday inspected the ongoing redevelopment of Ahmedabad Railway Station and announced plans to construct a 16-storey station complex, as part of a nationwide modernisation initiative covering 1,300 stations.

During his visit to the Kalupur area, where the work is being carried out by the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA), the Minister reviewed the progress and expressed satisfaction with the pace of development.

“We’re standing here on the fourth floor of Ahmedabad station. A 16-floor station will be built here. The work is progressing very well,” Vaishnaw said, adding that the redevelopment drive aims to provide world-class facilities, seamless connectivity, and modern passenger amenities.

The Ahmedabad project is part of the Indian Railways’ Station Redevelopment Programme, which seeks to transform key stations into multifunctional transport hubs, integrating retail, commercial, and passenger spaces.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Railway Minister Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Sunday, seeking a major expansion of the railway network in Assam to improve connectivity across the state.

During the 25-minute meeting, held at the Minister’s official residence, Chief Minister Sarma proposed the introduction of three new Amrit Bharat trains to and from Assam and the creation of a new rail link connecting Umrangso (Dima Hasao district) with Lanka (Hojai district).

He also urged the Ministry to expedite the Kokrajhar–Gelephu Mindfulness City railway line, linking Assam with Bhutan’s upcoming Mindfulness City, and to provide additional stoppages for major trains passing through the state.

Minister Vaishnaw responded positively to all proposals and assured timely implementation.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Sarma described the discussion as “very productive,” adding that the Minister had “kindly consented to all the action points.”

Sarma stated: “We deliberated on expanding the railway’s footprint in Assam to enhance connectivity for our people. The new trains, rail links, and cross-border connections will strengthen the region’s economic and cultural integration.”

The twin announcements — the redevelopment of Ahmedabad station and the rail network expansion in Assam — highlight Indian Railways’ push to modernise infrastructure, improve regional connectivity, and deliver passenger-centric growth across the country.