Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) today presented its Draft Budget 2026, outlining an ambitious roadmap to strengthen the city’s urban mobility network. Under the “Urban Transport Augmentation” plan, AMC has proposed a major expansion of public transport through AMTS and BRTS, with a target of introducing 3,000 electric buses under the GCC model.

A key highlight of the draft budget is the development of four multimodal transport hubs, with a total allocation of Rs 980 crore. These hubs are planned at strategic highway-linked locations, including:

1. Amiapur (Zundal) on the Mehsana Highway

2. Kabha-Bhulwadi on the Indore Highway

3. Jetalpur, connecting routes towards Nadiad, Vadodara, and Surat

4. Bakarol on the Dholera–Rajkot Highway corridor

In addition, AMC has proposed Rs 630 crore for the construction of a major bus port on the Outer Ring Road, aimed at improving intercity connectivity and easing traffic pressure within city limits.

To support the transport expansion, the AMC draft budget has allocated Rs 120 crore for setting up a City Mobility Centre and Rs 100 crore for developing 10 new parking depots across Ahmedabad.

The draft budget also focuses heavily on electric mobility infrastructure. AMC has proposed a solar power charging policy with a provision of Rs 100 crore, along with plans for three new electric bus depots (Rs 35 crore), opportunity charging systems (Rs 10 crore), station and corridor redevelopment on a PPP basis (Rs 10 crore), and the installation of 100 electric charging stations at pay-and-park facilities.

BRTS station renovation, smart shelters and integrated ticketing system planned

As part of strengthening the BRTS network, AMC has proposed Rs 15 crore for renovation works at 76 BRTS stations. The budget also includes an AMTS Smart Bus Shelter Project to improve commuter convenience and safety.

Under the “Ease of Movement” vision for 2026–27, AMC has further proposed the establishment of a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), with an allocation of Rs 10 crore.

The corporation also plans to roll out Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) 2.0, along with an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) and a single-ticketing system integrating AMTS, BRTS, and metro routes.

To address growing parking demand, AMC has proposed the development of two multilevel parking facilities in Gota Ward and Vastral Ward, with a combined allocation of Rs 50 crore. DeshGujarat