If you are boarding a train to visit Rajasthan's famous hill station Mount Abu or Gujarat's revered shaktipeeth Ambaji, your journey ends at Abu Road railway station. Located on the Delhi-Ahmedabad rail route, this station is the real gateway to both these major pilgrimage and tourist spots. The biggest railway station in Sirohi district, it is also regarded as a model station of the Ajmer railway division, and it is now being readied for a complete makeover.
For the comfort of travellers, the station has three modern, well-equipped platforms. What stands out is that the cleaning and upkeep is handled by the Brahmakumari institution, which is why it always looks spotless. Counting daily and weekly services together, a total of 122 trains halt at Abu Road.
A favourite among Indian and foreign tourists
According to local tourist guide Chintu Yadav, along with Mount Abu, Ambaji and the well-known Jain pilgrimage site Pavapuri, the international headquarters of the spiritual organisation Brahmakumari is also based here. This is why large numbers of tourists from India and abroad arrive by train. Mount Abu lies 27 kilometres from Abu Road, while Ambaji Dham, one of the country's 51 shaktipeeths, is just 20 kilometres away.
A proud history stretching back 145 years
The station's story goes back about 145 years. The Rajputana Malwa Railway laid its foundation on 30 December 1880, and it was renamed Abu Road. Later, on 26 October 1966, Indian Railways set up a grand diesel loco shed here. This diesel shed is the only one in the Ajmer rail division and the second largest in the North Western Railway zone, which adds to its importance.
Direct trains from every big city
If you are planning to reach Mount Abu from any metro or major city, direct trains to Abu Road are easy to find. Premium services such as Vande Bharat and Rajdhani stop here, along with several superfast and express trains. Rail connectivity is available from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Chennai, and other leading cities across the country.
An industrial hub, not just a tourist stop
The station matters not only for tourism but also from an industrial standpoint. Four large RIICO industrial areas sit right near it. These zones house big units producing marble, granite, cement and steel, whose goods are shipped in large volumes to different parts of the country as well as overseas.
An 81 crore world-class overhaul
According to the senior public relations inspector of the Ajmer division, Railways has earmarked a hefty budget of 81 crore rupees for the station's modernisation and revamp. Even now, a well-built AC waiting hall and a normal waiting hall are available for passengers. Taxis and buses to Mount Abu or Ambaji are readily available right outside the station, as the main roadways bus stand is only 500 metres away.
