Unlike other stations in Surabaya which were built by Staatsspoorwegen (SS) and Oost-Java Stoomtram Maatschappij (OJSM), Surabaya Pasarturi Station was built by the first private railway company in the Dutch East Indies, namely Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS). After making profits in the 1890s, NIS applied for concessions to build new lines. On 1 September 1897, this company received a concession permit for the construction of a new railway line for the Gundih–Gambringan–Bojonegoro–Surabaya route. In order to accommodate passengers from Gresik, a branch route to Gresik was built. In addition, a railroad crossing from Babat to Merakurak was also built.
