Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the 20.8 km long corridor of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-II from Sector-1 Station on September 16, 2024. Phase-II extends the North-South Metro Corridor of Ahmedabad Metro Phase I. The mainline is an extension of the APMC to Motera line and extends to Mahatma Mandir, while the branch line starts at GNLU and ends at GIFT City.

The new corridor will feature eight stations dedicated to serving the people, including a 15.4 km viaduct from Motera to Sector-1, with six stations: GNLU, Raysan, Randesan, Dholakuva Circle, Infocity, and Sector-1. Additionally, the project includes a 5.4 km Gift City link line with two stations: PDEU and Gift City. The total cost of the project is ₹3,284 crores.

Ahmedabad Metro Phase-II will significantly benefit daily commuters between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, offering a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. This massive infrastructure initiative comprises viaducts, special bridges, elevated station buildings, ballast-less rail tracks, and modern systems for signaling, telecom, and automatic fare collection. The project also integrates advanced safety features, including lifts, escalators, and firefighting equipment.

Each station is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring proper ramps, lifts, and tactile warning and directional signage to ensure safe and comfortable travel for all passengers, including those with disabilities. The specifications for each station include a length of 140 meters, a width of 20.5 meters, a height of 20-25 meters, and a built-up area of 5,340 square meters, including entry and exit points. Every station has two entry/exits, equipped with four lifts and four escalators for easy passenger access.

During the construction phase, approximately 5,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs were created for project design and execution. Once operational, the metro will provide employment to around 1,500 personnel, further contributing to the region’s economy.

A Major Step Towards Affordable and Efficient Urban Transport
One of the defining features of the Metro Rail Extension is its affordability and time efficiency. With the continuous rise in fuel prices and increased traffic congestion, the Metro stands out as the most economical and reliable form of public transport available.

For instance, the Metro journey from APMC to Gandhinagar’s Sector-1, which spans approximately 33 km, takes just 65 minutes and costs ₹35. In comparison, the same journey via taxi can take over 80 minutes, with fares exceeding ₹415. Similarly, autorickshaw fares for this route hover around ₹375, taking the same amount of time or longer. By offering affordable fares and predictable travel times, the Metro is poised to become the go-to choice for daily commuters, students, and professionals working in the rapidly developing areas of Gandhinagar and GIFT City.

Further, the Metro’s clean energy and efficient design significantly reduce the carbon footprint, making it a more sustainable option compared to private vehicles. The service will greatly help in easing traffic on Ahmedabad’s busy roads, reducing both pollution and the strain on existing transport infrastructure.

Metro Rail Extension: Key Features and Highlights
The Metro Rail Extension will open up vital connections between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, serving an anticipated large volume of passengers every day. Some key details of the project include:

Route and Distance:

– The second phase of the Metro covers a distance of 21 km, stretching from Motera to

Gandhinagar’s Sector-1.

– Key stations include GNLU, PDEU, Gift City, Raysan, Randesan, Dholakuva Circle, Infocity, and Sector 1, all strategically located to provide maximum convenience to passengers.

Project Investment:

The total project cost for Phase II stands at ₹5,384 crore, with funding secured through loans from international agencies AFD and KfW. This financial backing underscore the government’s commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure and fostering regional economic growth.

Reduced Travel Time:

The extended route dramatically reduces the travel time between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. For instance, commuters can now travel between APMC and GIFT City in under an hour, at a cost of around ₹35.

Environmental Benefits:

The Metro’s operation helps lower vehicular emissions, offering a greener alternative to private cars, taxis, and two-wheelers. As cities across India continue to battle air pollution and traffic congestion, the Metro Rail Extension represents a forward-thinking solution that supports both the environment and economic development.

Economic and Social Impact:
The Metro’s new stations will bring major social and economic benefits to the region, particularly with the expansion of commercial centres around GIFT City and Infocity. Professionals working in these areas will now have a fast and affordable commute option, which will increase productivity and support the growth of businesses in the region.

The Metro Rail Extension is expected to boost real estate development around the new stations. As connectivity improves, the demand for housing and commercial spaces in the surrounding areas will rise, creating opportunities for new investments and driving urban growth. By connecting key urban areas and providing an affordable means of transport, the Metro will also play a significant role in improving the quality of life for residents. The savings in time and money for commuters, as well as the reduced reliance on personal vehicles, will have long-lasting effects on the health, well-being, and financial security of the population.

Future-Proofing Gujarat’s Urban Infrastructure
Looking ahead, this Metro expansion is just one part of Gujarat’s broader strategy to build a robust and sustainable urban transport network. Plans for further extensions and enhancements to the Metro network are already underway, to create a fully integrated transport system that will serve the region for decades to come.

The Ahmedabad Metro Rail Extension represents a significant milestone in Gujarat’s path to becoming a global urban centre. By improving connectivity between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, it provides a more sustainable, affordable, and convenient travel option for all.

Salient Features of the Project:

Various stages of Construction Work

1. Soil Investigation/Verification
2. Design Performance by DDC
3. Utility Identification (water supply line, gas line, sewer/drainage line, power line, storm water line etc.)
4. Utility Shifting
5. Pile Foundation
6. Pile Cap
7. Pier
8. Pier Cap
9. Bearings
10. Girders (Box Girder, I Girder and Steel Girder)
11. Deck Slab
12. Parapet
13. Track/ Rail
14. Third Rail
15. Signalling
16. Telecom
17. AFC

Station Features

The station design takes weather, lighting and ventilation in consideration. The stations have 3 Levels, namely, street/road level below, concourse level above the road level and platform level to the top.

Concourse Level

Paid and unpaid area are separated at the station concourse. Passengers buy tickets from unpaid area and enter the paid area, from where they can go to platform and board the train. Ticket office, system rooms, stations control room, toilets are constructed on the concourse level.

Facilities like Emergency Telephone, Public address System (PAS), Passengers Information Display System (PIDS) etc. are provided for the safety of passengers.

Facility for Differently Abled

There is special ramp and wheelchair facility for the differently abled. Apart from that, tactile flooring, low height ticket counter, braille call button and handrail in lift and restroom facilities have been provided as per National Building Code (NBC) guidelines.

Major Construction Work

The Metro Stations has been designed and constructed with state of the art, precast pre-stressed superstructure supported on a single row of pier on the road median which not only reduces the road occupancy during construction but also improves the speed & quality of construction.

The viaduct also has been designed and constructed with special techniques using precast pier arms and precast U-Girders to ensure least road occupancy & better quality & speed.

Major Structure:

• Extra Dose Bridge:

The 303m-long cable-stay extra-dosed bridge over Narmada Canal connecting Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar with a central span of 145 m, is an engineering feat, being the longest extra-dosed cable-stay bridge on metro in India.

• Sabarmati Bridge

This 960 m long bridge across the Sabarmati river (23 spans, 41.8 m) built using latest auto launching technique, links Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad to GIFT City.

• Special Spans

At Tapovan Circle & Koba Circle,

The use of 4 nos. of 46-meter steel composite girder spans at Tapovan Circle and Koba Circle has significantly improved construction efficiency and minimized disruption to traffic, in the following ways:

• Reduced construction time: Parallel working helped accelerate the project timeline.
• Minimal traffic disruption: The road remained open without the need for closure or diversion, maintaining smooth traffic flow.
• Improved visibility: The clear line of sight at these key traffic rotaries enhanced vehicle safety and navigation.

At the CH-0 circle,

Two 47-meter steel composite girders were employed to minimize disruption for National Highway road users. The installation was carried out concurrently to reduce interference with traffic. These composite girders were selected due to their ability to cover long spans efficiently, allowing for quicker erection compared to traditional span methods.

Environmental Aspect

• Special emphasis is given to making it an environment-friendly & green corridor by providing horticulture work below the viaduct & station, Rainwater harvesting in stations wherever feasible, Natural light and air circulation in the station concourse & platform, etc.

Artwork at Stations

Artworks have been displayed at stations to showcase Gujarat’s rich cultural heritage and social & environmental features.

Different Parts of System

• Automatic Fare Collection
• Train (Rolling Stock)
• Signalling
• Telecommunication
• Traction Power Supply
• Lifts
• Escalators
• Fire Fighting
• HVAC (Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
• E&M (Electrical & Mechanical)
• 180 kVA DG Sets
• 2×20 kVA UPS Battery

Traction Power Supply System

Electricity is the main source of energy for running the metro system.

Ahmedabad Phase- II receives electrical power at 132 kV level from the corresponding GSS (Grid Sub-station) of the power supply authority to RSS (Receiving Sub-stations).

The 132 KV power supply at RSS is stepped down to 33 KV using oil cooled power transformers and then distributed through 33 KV cables through viaduct/tunnels to auxiliary and traction sub-stations, which are 750 V DC traction supply and 415V AC for auxiliary services.

The 750 V DC system uses a third rail system to power the train. The third rail is in 15m lengths, joined together by special splice joints.

DG sets and UPS Battery are arranged at each station.

Fare collection System

• Automatic Entry/Exit Gate
• Ticket Office Machine (TOM)
• Ticket Vending Machine (TVM)
• Recharge Card Machine (RCM)

Fare Details

Other Facilities provided for passengers inside the train

• Passengers Emergency Alarms – 12 Nos
• Passenger Information System – 18 Nos
• Dynamic Route Map Display – 6 Nos
• Destination Indicators – 8 Nos
• Digital Route Map – 12 Nos
• Outside Speakers – 12 Nos
• Special Allocated Space for Differently-abled
• CCTV Camera – 20 Nos