Ahmedabad Metro: Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Launch Metro Phase-I Service On 30 September

On 17 September, Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) was given authorisation by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) to start commercial operations over the entire 40-kilometre stretch of Phase-1 of the Ahmedabad Metro.

Currently, the Ahmedabad Metro has been operating only along a 6.5-kilometre stretch of the East-West Corridor (Vastral Gam-Apparel Park) since 2019. 

On 30 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely inaugurate the remaining 33.5 kilometres stretch, which has 23 stations. 

PM Modi will also signal the departure of the Vande Bharat train on 30 September from Gandhinagar. He might launch the metro service officially on the same day, shortly before the Vande Bharat train departs, reports Economic Times. 

Before addressing the crowd on the Ahmedabad Education Society grounds, he will probably take a brief metro ride. However, Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation officials said they were awaiting a nod from the centre. 

The project's foundational work had started roughly seven years ago. PM Modi had officially opened the 6.5-kilometre segment of this project before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

However, GMRC officials said that work on the 1km stretch from Thaltej to Thaltej Gam is still underway. Also, the report added that Kankaria East, Sabarmati, and Thaltej Gam stations would not be ready when the Metro is inaugurated.

The approval from CMRS followed the organisation's thorough examinations of the North-West Corridor and the East-West Corridor.

The initial inspection took place in August, and the subsequent one happened in the first week of September.

Ahmedabad Metro Rail Phase I: The project has a total length of roughly 40.03 km, of which about 6.5 km is underground, and the remaining is elevated. 

It is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 10,773 crore.

With the help of 32 stations and two corridors, the project will link the city of Ahmedabad's four corners.

North- South Corridor: Motera Stadium will be connected to APMC, Vasna, by an 18.87-kilometre North-South Corridor that will also travel past the Sabarmati, AEC, Sabarmati Railway Station, Ranip, Vadaj, Vijaynagar, Usmanpura, Old High Court, Gandhigram, Paldi, Shreyas, Rajivnagar, and Jivraj stations.

With 15 stops, the North-South Corridor will be entirely elevated.

East-West Corridor: The total length of this corridor is about 21.16 km. There will be 17 stations in the route, out of which 13 will be elevated and the remaining 4 will be underground.

Ahmedabad Metro Rail Phase II: In February 2019, the union government approved the 28.254 km Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 project comprising two corridors at a total estimated cost of Rs 5384.17 crores.

Prime Minister Modi laid its foundation stone on 4 March 2019. Phase 2 of Ahmedabad Metro involves a north extension of Line-2 from Motera Station to Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. The construction work commenced in February 2021.

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