The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) has altered its plans for a dedicated metro route linking GIFT City to Ahmedabad’s international airport. The initial proposal for a direct connection from GIFT City was scrapped due to cost escalations. Instead, the new route will extend from the existing Motera-Koteshwar corridor, providing a non-stop service to the airport.
Despite this adjustment, passengers travelling from GIFT City will still need to change metro trains three times, while those from Thaltej and Vastral areas will need to change trains twice to reach the airport. GMRC officials have confirmed the revision and stated that a detailed project report (DPR) has been submitted to the central government for approval. The plan was finalized before the model code of conduct came into effect.
Passengers using the east-west or north-south corridors may also require two to three transfers to access the airport line. The GMRC official noted that the DPR has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Urban Development, with testing ongoing on other sections of the metro. A comprehensive safety review by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety is anticipated after the Lok Sabha election.
The GMRC official expressed confidence that the dedicated route will provide a convenient link for air travellers in Ahmedabad, emphasizing that the project is progressing rapidly with the submission of the DPR and ongoing testing on various sections. Additionally, earlier this month, the GMRC conducted a trial run of the metro between Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) and GIFT City as part of phase 2 of the project.
