Surat Metro to Reflect ‘Diamond City’ Identity, Feature Stacked Stations and Major Engineering Innovations

Surat: The Surat Metro project is incorporating Surat’s identity as the world-renowned ‘Diamond City’ into the design of its trains and infrastructure. Designs inspired by various diamond cuts have been created for the ceiling and exterior elevation of the metro trains.

The interiors have been designed to ensure that passengers experience Surat’s identity as the ‘Diamond City’ upon entering the metro. The effort to link the city’s identity with public transport is expected to give the metro a distinctive character.

Stacked Metro Stations at a Depth of 110 Feet

One of the notable features of the Surat Metro project is the use of ‘stacked station’ technology. Considering the congested areas at Maskati Hospital and Labheshwar, two-level underground metro stations are being constructed at a depth of approximately 110 feet.

In a standard metro station, tracks for trains running in opposite directions are placed side-by-side. In a stacked station, however, the track for one direction is positioned above the track for the other. This configuration enables metro services in both directions within a limited space.

The Surat Metro project includes two such stacked stations.

In the highly congested Old City areas of Bhagal and Kapodra, the stacked station design has been adopted where land is scarce. The arrangement allows vertical use of space without requiring acquisition of surrounding properties or historical buildings.

Construction of these stations involves creating vertically stacked tunnels, one above the other, using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). Advanced engineering technologies, including robust diaphragm walls and the ‘top-down’ construction method, are also being used to prevent soil collapse.

Route Altered to Save 700-Year-Old Tree

Environmental and heritage conservation have also been considered in the Surat Metro project. The metro alignment was specifically altered to save the historic ‘Chor Aamli’ tree, which is more than 700 years old and is located in the Adajan village area.

The decision to modify the route to protect the tree is presented as an example of development being carried out alongside the conservation of nature and heritage.

More Than 3,000 Trees at Dream City Depot

The Dream City Depot has been developed over approximately 20 hectares in Khajod. It includes a stabling yard capable of accommodating 24 metro trains simultaneously.

The depot also has maintenance and washing plants, technical units and an administration block. More than 3,000 trees have been planted within the depot premises.

Facilities for sewage and effluent treatment have also been installed to enable water recycling.

Metro to Run on Electricity Without Overhead Wires

The Surat Metro will use a modern 750-volt DC third-rail system for power supply.

The system eliminates the need for traditional electricity poles. It will also help mitigate risks associated with power supply during adverse weather conditions, including strong winds and cyclones.

Majuragate to Become First Interchange Hub

Majuragate station, which connects both corridors of the Surat Metro, will serve as the city’s first interchange hub.

Passengers will be able to transfer between the two corridors at the station. A multi-modal transport system connecting the railway station, city bus services and GSRTC depot will also facilitate commuting within the city.

85-Metre Girder Sets Engineering Benchmark

An 85-metre-long open-web girder has been launched for the metro between Saroli and Raghukul Textile Market.

Approximately 810 tonnes of steel and more than 47,000 nuts and bolts were used to construct the girder. Launching such a large steel structure in a densely populated urban area is one of the major engineering features of the project.