Amdavadis brace for an unseasonably warm Diwali amid rising temperatures; platform ticket sales suspended at Ahmedabad, Asarwa, and Sabarmati stations; Gujarat CM flags off ‘Run For Unity’ marathon in Ahmedabad, and more. Catch up on the latest with this Ahmedabad News Roundup.

Ahmedabad's Diwali season has started on a warm note, with the city recording a high of 38.2°C on Monday – the second consecutive day above 38°C and well above the seasonal average. The minimum temperature also rose to 23.4°C, marking a jump of over 4°C above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Diwali festivities, which began with Vagh Baras, are typically accompanied by cooler weather. However, the IMD has forecasted that these higher-than-average temperatures are expected to continue over the next 4-5 days, making this Diwali unseasonably warm.

To ease crowd congestion during the festive season, the Ahmedabad Division has temporarily suspended platform ticket sales at Ahmedabad, Asarwa, and Sabarmati railway stations.

This measure, effective immediately, aims to facilitate smoother passenger movement in anticipation of the Diwali and Chhath Puja rush and will remain in effect until the 6th of November 2024.

On Tuesday, Gujarat Chief Minister flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ marathon in Ahmedabad, honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on National Unity Day. Typically held on October 31, the marathon was organised early due to Diwali celebrations. National Unity Day commemorates the legacy of India’s first Home Minister, with celebrations occurring nationwide.

In response to high passenger demand for Diwali and Chhath Puja, Western Railway has introduced a special festival train between Ahmedabad and Gorakhpur. Train No. 09449/09450 Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur-Ahmedabad Special will operate a total of 10 trips.

The trains will make stops at major stations including Anand, Chhayapuri, Ratlam, Kota, Agra Fort, and Lucknow, with coaches available in AC 3-tier, sleeper, and general classes.

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has approved new charges for kitchen and general waste disposal at private event halls and party plots across the city. Following a meeting by the Solid Waste Management Committee, a fee ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000, depending on the venue size, will be implemented.

The decision seeks to improve waste disposal from social events, such as weddings and religious gatherings, which often generate large amounts of waste. Venue managers will be required to dispose of waste via AMC vehicles or designated recyclers. This initiative aims to eliminate the open dumping that frequently occurs around event locations.