RailEnquiry

In fresh round of election-triggered announcements by Gujarat government, routes for long-pending Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Rail project were announced on Friday. Amdavadis can ride the metro from as early as 2015.Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board had proposed Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Rail in 2003, whose detailed project report was approved by the Centre in 2005.While the rail network is pretty comprehensive in eastern parts of Ahmedabad, it fails to connect suburbs west of the Sabarmati.As per the statement issued by Gujarat government, Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Rail project stretches for 76km, including 44km of commute in Ahmedabad and a 32-km tube connecting the city to Gandhinagar. The statement, however, doesn’t mention anything about dates of either ground-breaking ceremony or launch of the project.The route in western Ahmedabad stretches from APMC market through Vasna, Parimal Garden, Panjrapol and to Vijay Crossroads, Navrangpura, Usmanpura and Vadaj upto Gandhinagar via Ranip and Sabarmati railway station. The stretch will cater to major commuter islands of Gujarat University and business centres of CG Road and Ashram Road.The second route and first of the eastern stretches will be divided into two parts – one, connecting Paldi with Jamalpur, Danilimda, Isanpur, Ghodasar and Rakhial upto Memco Sports Complex while two will start from Jamalpur to Vadaj through heavy traffic zones of Gita Mandir, Kalupur Railway Station and Civil Hospital.

The 22.8-km-long first route will mostly be an elevated corridor while the second 6-km route will be completely underground. The stretches promise to reduce traffic bottlenecks in these areas.

Meanwhile, Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar section of the metro railway (via Koba and SH71) will come as a boon to the thousands that commute the 32-km distance everyday.

Two other routes of connecting Ahmedabad with GIFT City and the international airport are also being planned. One of these will traverse via AEC junction, Motera and Hansol to the airport while the other will reach GIFT City crossing the Sabarmati River.