Prime Minister Inaugurates Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project’s Phase II

On September 16, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project’s Phase II, which connects the cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The inauguration ceremony was held in Ahmedabad, where Mr. Modi flagged off the new metro route from Sector 1 station in Gandhinagar to GIFT City. Accompanying the Prime Minister on this inaugural metro journey were Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. During the journey, Mr. Modi interacted with students and other passengers using the service.

The newly inaugurated phase is part one of Phase II of the metro expansion project and covers a span of 21 kilometers. It includes eight new stations meant to provide an efficient transportation service between the two cities. This project is a collaboration between the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC), the state, and the Central government of India. The extended metro network links major locations between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, such as the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gift City, Raysan, Randesan, Dholakuva, Infocity, and Sector 1.

The new phase of the metro extends from Motera to Sector 1 in Gandhinagar, connecting crucial hubs like GIFT City. This expansion facilitates easy access for professionals, students, and tourists, offering a significant reduction in travel time between the two cities. For example, the commute between APMC and GIFT City can now be completed in less than an hour at a cost of Rs 35.

The development of the metro is seen as a solution to the connectivity issues faced between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, which had previously posed challenges for commuters. The total cost of completing Phase II of the metro project was estimated at ₹5,384 crore. Funding for this project was secured through loans from international agencies, including the French Development Agency (AFD) and KfW, a German state-owned development bank.