Gandhinagar: The Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar Metro has been a boon for commuters travelling between the state’s largest city, Ahmedabad, and the capital, Gandhinagar, since operations began up to the Secretariat. Now, a long-anticipated extension of the metro rail service is set to be inaugurated in two days, i.e. January 11, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Under this extension from the Secretariat to Mahatma Mandir, five new stations will become operational: Akshardham, Juna Sachivalaya (Old Secretariat), Sector-16, Sector-24, and Mahatma Mandir. Spread across a 5.36-kilometre corridor, the extension seamlessly connects Gandhinagar’s administrative core, cultural landmarks, and residential neighbourhoods into a single transit line.

Akshardham

The first station after Sachivalaya towards Mahatma Mandir is Akshardham. With trains scheduled to begin stopping here from January 11, the station is expected to become one of the corridor’s busiest. Its proximity to the Akshardham Temple, visited by thousands of devotees and tourists each week, makes it a major attraction.

Nearby facilities such as the Vidya Samiksha Kendra, places in Sectors 10B, 18 and the market in Sector 21, surrounding residential areas, and Punit Van add to its significance as a hub for students, shoppers, and visitors who can walk to any of these places after deboarding at Akshardham Station.

From this station, the Governor’s House is also nearly 2 km away, and a little walk of a little over 20 minutes can take you to nearby places, which include Circuit House.

Juna Sachivalaya

The next station, Juna Sachivalaya, is expected to be a major relief for government employees working in the Old Secretariat complex. The station offers direct walkable access to offices, eliminating the need to disembark at the main Secretariat station and commute further by road.

It is also within walking distance of the Old MLA Quarters and the Helipad Exhibition Centre, which hosts official meetings, exhibitions, and public events throughout the year. What was once a traffic-choked zone is now directly connected to the wider urban transit network.

Sector-16

The intermediate station Sector-16 brings improved mobility to a largely residential zone. It provides walkable connectivity to Sectors 16, 22, and 23 and is located beside the Swaminarayan Gurukul, offering doorstep access for students. For families who have long depended on buses and two-wheelers, the station introduces direct metro access to offices, markets, and educational centres across the city.

Sector-24

Sector-24 Metro Station offers walkable connectivity to major educational institutions such as VPMP Polytechnic, LDRP Institute of Technology and Research, the Industrial Training Institute (Sector-15), and the Gujarat Engineering Research Institute (GERI). The station is expected to significantly benefit students and daily academic commuters, turning this residential and institutional belt into a well-connected transit zone.

Mahatma Mandir

The final station on the Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar Metro route, Mahatma Mandir, stands as a gateway to Gandhinagar’s most prominent civic and cultural landmarks. Within minutes of disembarking, commuters can reach the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, host to international summits and large-scale public events, as well as the Dandi Kutir museum, the Sports Authority of India complex, the Gandhinagar Athletic Complex, and the Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya campus.

For students, athletes, and visitors from Ahmedabad, journeys that once required multiple modes of transport are now completed through a single, uninterrupted metro ride. The station’s proximity to Gandhinagar Capital Railway Station further strengthens its role as a regional transport hub.

Visitors wishing to stay at or dine in a five-star hotel can also easily reach The Leela Hotel near Gandhinagar Capital Station with a short walk from Mahatma Mandir station. Nearby attractions such as Namo Vad Van further enhance the area’s appeal.

Overall, the extension is expected not only to ease daily commuting for government employees and residents but also to significantly improve access for tourists visiting Gandhinagar’s major landmarks. The project is likely to reduce road congestion, shorten travel time between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, and reinforce the metro’s role as a high-capacity, sustainable transport backbone for the region.

With Phase 2 now set to become fully operational, the metro network directly links the state’s administrative nerve centre with its cultural and convention districts, marking a major milestone in Gujarat’s urban mobility expansion. DeshGujarat