CM Anandiben Patel lays stone for Ahmedabad Metro

Planned in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, total 76-km-long world-class rail project got on track after Modi became Prime Minister in 2014.

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The NDA regime gave two biggest pushes — freeing of required railway land and final nod to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) along with the release of Rs 1,990 crore.

In November last year, the Narendra Modi-led central government had approved a grant of Rs 10,773 crore for phase-1 of the metro rail project in the city. It also gave nod for using the unused Western Railways land along the Botad- Sabarmati metregauge line in Ahmedabad.

The first phase, covering 37.76 km, has two different corridors, including East-West Corridor from Vastral to Thaltej and the North-South corridor from APMC to Motera. The work of Vastral-Thaltej route will end likely by September 2016, she said.

“With clearance coming in November 2014, it was high-time for us in this financial year for starting the project” said a top official. Union Urban Development Minister Venkiah Naidu who was to originally conduct the ceremony cancelled his visit leaving it to Patel to preside over the function.

“After Narendrabhai became the Prime Minister, he expedited this project. We are thankful to him. Metro will provide another public transport option along with the BRTS,” Patel said.

According to the informational available, the construction company which has been awarded the work out of three bidders, will build a service road before taking up work for the first corridor. The first work order was awarded on January 31 this year which is to cost Rs 278 crore involving the six-km stretch from Vastral to Apparel Park.

The implementing agency, Metrolink Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA), is owned by the State Government. It had invited tender for “construction of Elevated Viaduct from Vastral Gam to Apparel Park up to Ramp Start”. The tender was issued on October 10 only for the construction of elevated viaduct on six-km stretch.

There will be seven Metro stations on 7.5 km route, construction of which will be covered in separate tender. Distance between two stations will be around 1,200-1,500 metres.

MEGA plans to operate 4-6 coaches to begin with at 45-100 km/hour speed.

The first phase route length is 35.956 km, of which 29.621 km will be over surface and 6.355 km route will be underground with 28 stations on the surface and four to be built underground.