The Surat railway station being designed by the Creative Group on the concept of Railo-Polis, is a mini smart city with mixed-use development, where one can live, work, play, and ride. The redevelopment project will be carried out by the Surat Integrated Transportation Development Corporation (SITCO) a joint venture between RLDA, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, and the Surat Municipal Corporation.

Surat railway station

Fact File Project name: Surat Multi Modal Transport Hub
Location: Surat, Gujarat
Site Area: 23,175 sqm
Client: RLDA
Architect: Creative Group LLP

Surat railway station
Railway Stations, which have been neglected for decades, are now prepared to modernize with cutting-edge technologies and eye-catching design to make the entire journey worthwhile from arrival to departure. So, the main objective of the design was to provide best-in-class amenities to passengers as well as to create a chaos-free flow of movement. The redeveloped station will confer several benefits such as boosting economic activities, creating job opportunities, augment tourism potential, ease congestion, balanced utilization of the east and west side of the railway station and usher in a world-class transit system – one that is affordable, efficient, and sustainable. Strengthening the rail network in India is strengthening the network between cities - uniting the Rural, Urban, and Peri-Urban Areas.

Ar Gurpreet Shah, Principal Architect, Creative Group LLP

The Surat Railway Station is a terminal point for some long-distance trains and is one of the busiest stations of India on the Mumbai-Surat Double Line Broad Gauge Electrified Section. As a part of the overall station planning exercise, a passenger simulation study and traffic assessment of the station was carried out by IRSDC in 2021 to study the functional performance of the existing station.

Surat railway station

With a vision of creating a world-class station, the Surat Railway Station aims to combine a variety of facilities by upgrading the current infrastructure and giving passengers the best amenities, convenience, security, and safety possible. There will be upgraded waiting areas and seating capacity, air-conditioned waiting lounges, public areas designed on the basis of projected passenger growth and as per world-class standards, and platforms integrated with commercial facilities. The planning of utilities and services will also be as per sustainable utilization of resources including energy efficient systems, use of renewable sources, and water conservation through rainwater harvesting and recycled water.

Surat railway station

Smooth circulation of people and goods
Smooth internal and external circulation is the first stage in transforming the station with world-class facilities. The design idea was developed to make it easier for vehicles to go west and east of the station as well as segregation of arriving and departing passengers to maintain seamless movement. The planning has been done such that there is uninterrupted and free movement from each of these zones into the station building and its various passenger amenities.

Surat railway station

The planning encourages provision of controlled access points with separate entry and exist to and from the station building, thus ensuring smooth and uncluttered pedestrian, passenger movement. For accommodating the anticipated increase in passenger volume, the parking lots will have separate entrance/exit locations, thereby preventing congestion and chaos.

Separate circulation routes for passengers and parcels will ensure smooth functioning of services. Parcel Over Bridges (POBs) have been provided for ease of transport of parcels arriving at the station or being dispatched.

Surat railway station

Boost to local economy
The Surat railway station redevelopment project aims to further strengthen the local economy and boost the tourism potential of the city. It is envisioned to be redeveloped as an integrated railway station and a sub-central business district to transform the station estate and surroundings using Transit-Oriented Development and Smart City principles. The redeveloped station will provide seamless accessibility and connectivity with the surroundings. The existing model has been significantly improved by making the best use of the land in and around the station structure. Green spaces have been envisioned at appropriate zones in the station’s vicinity to ensure good air quality.