Over 47 trains affected due to Kalupur Railway Station redevelopment, Ahmedabad International Book Festival to feature art performances, construction of rubber barrage bridge over Sabarmati river begins, and more. Find out what's happening in the city with Ahmedabad News Roundup.

The redevelopment of Ahmedabad’s Kalupur Railway Station is set to take three years, during which several train services will be diverted to nearby stations. The Ministry of Railways has issued a detailed plan for rerouting over 47 trains originating from Kalupur to stations like Sabarmati, Maninagar, Vatva, and Asarva.

Key trains including the Karnavati Express, AC Double Decker, Gujarat Express, and Central Express will now depart from Maninagar for their onward journey to Mumbai Central. Additionally, trains such as the Asansol Express, Gorakhpur Express, and Darbhanga Jan Sadharan Express will also operate from Maninagar.

The Ahmedabad International Book Festival 2024 will take place from the 30th of November to the 8th of December. The opening day will feature performances by Monica de la Fuente, a master of Bharata Natyam and Kathakali, and Vidya Shah, a renowned musician, at 8 PM on Saturday. The festival promises to be a cultural and literary extravaganza for visitors.

The construction of a 6-lane, 1 km rubber barrage bridge over the Sabarmati River has officially begun. This bridge will connect Acher, near the Torrent Powerhouse, to Sadar Bazar and is expected to ease traffic congestion between Chandkheda, Sabarmati, Motera, Hansol, and the airport.

With an estimated cost of ₹367 crore, the project also aims to enhance water security by acting as a reservoir capable of supplying Ahmedabad with uninterrupted water for up to 15 days.

The Sabarmati-Varanasi Express, train no 19407/19408 has been upgraded to a superfast train starting the 2nd, reducing travel time by over an hour. Western Railway has announced that passengers will need to pay an additional superfast surcharge of ₹20 for sleeper class and ₹30 for AC coaches. The train’s number will also be updated to reflect its new status.

A large-scale combing operation by Ahmedabad police resulted in ₹40 lakh in traffic fines collected over two days. The RTO office witnessed an unprecedented rush, with over 500 vehicle owners paying ₹18 lakh in fines on a single day. The crackdown significantly increased the usual number of daily offenders visiting the RTO to settle pending fines.

According to a study conducted by CEPT University students, 67% of public transport trips in Ahmedabad require passengers to switch modes due to inadequate last-mile connectivity, reports The Indian Express. The study further highlights the lack of multi-modal transport options and emphasises how factors like job locations and income levels significantly influence travel patterns, leading to low public transport usage in the city.

Ahmedabad now has 1,749 CCTV cameras monitoring traffic across 110 city junctions as part of the Safe and Secure Ahmedabad (SASA) project. Navrangpura is the most monitored area with 347 cameras, followed by Bodakdev and Jodhpur. Launched eight years ago, the SASA project aims to install 6,500 cameras citywide to enhance public safety and reduce traffic violations.

A study by a private university estimates that Ahmedabad has around 30 lakh edible tobacco users, with each person spitting up to 30 times daily, leading to 9 crore spits across the city. About 25% of this waste ends up on public spaces like walls, staircases, and urinals. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is monitoring the issue through CCTV surveillance to curb spitting and maintain cleanliness.