Ahmedabad Metro | MetroLink Express Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad (MEGA)

[GJ10]

Official Website

MetroLink Express Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar (MEGA) is the long awaited metro-rail service for both the Political and Financial Capitals of Gujarat.

After various feasibility reports gave the project a thumbs up, there was a long quiet spell, however, there are now encouraging signs for this much needed undertaking, underlined by the formation of an SPV in May of 2009 to manage the project in the same way that DMRC did in Delhi.

Phase I of the project, as recommended by DMRC will be completely elevated

N-S = 32.65km, 31 stations
E-W = 10.90km, 11 stations

Potential for expansion towards Dholera (SIR) in phase II

Heres a map from when DMRC first conducted their feasibility reports, showing possible Metro routes along with BRTS.



Metro map from the official website:



Get set for metro trial

Contrary to popular perception of an underground tube' system for Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro, the Delhi Metro Rail
Corporation (DMRC) had proposed an elevated corridor in 2005 as it will occupy less space and not prove to be a traffic hurdle.

The north-south corridor connecting Ashram Road till Gandhinagar is wholly elevated and close to 26 per cent of the corridor will have curves up to radius as sharp as 130 metres. The 32.65-km corridor will start at the junction of Ashram Road on National Highway 8A near APMC Vasna. The route will move along the central verge of Ashram Road covering Vasna, Paldi, VS Hospital, Town Hall and reach Income-Tax junction.

At this stage, the corridor will cross the east-west corridor of the metro rail. The intermediary stations will include Usmanpura, Vadaj, Subhash Circle and then pass in front of Gandhi Ashram. It is here that the alignment crosses Chimanbhai Bridge and the railway lines to reach Sabarmati Bridge, Motera Stadium till Radhasoami Satsang Vyas near Koba Circle. The line will then turn a little left and towards state highway 71 to Gandhinagar. Before the train reaches Indroda Circle, a connection is provided from Dhaula Kuva station near Infocity and GIFT city.

The east-west corridor will start from Kalupur station and then take a periphery route skirting the walled city taking the Kasturba Gandhi road passing through Delhi Darwaza, Prem Darwaza and Shahpur Darwaza. The route will then turn south towards I-T Circle. DMRC has suggested that few buildings will have to relocated here in order to create an intersection for the north-south metro corridor. From here, the route will turn west towards Commerce Crossing, further towards Manav Mandir, Drive-In Road via 132-feet Ring Road before terminating at Thaltej Crossing. The total route length of the east-west corridor is 10.90 km.

The report further states that a total of the 11 stations will be located on the east-west corridor while 31 stations located on the north-south corridor.

Gujarat Industrial Development Board (GIDB) are yet to receive a final word on the route extensions up to Dholera SIR, which also includes an intersection with the Delhi-Mumbai Infrastructure Corridor (DMIC). A possible route towards this region is a route extension Changodar Crossroads in the second phase of the metro rail.

Recent Articles:

June 7 2009 - Metro to Ride Realty Rail
June 7 2009 - Metro Rail for GIFT City
May 12 2009 - New Govt Co Born to Deliver Metro
New Firm to Speed Up Metro in Ahmedabad

Please use this thread for any further articles, updates or views on this project.

Cheers

[viedumonde]

Hey that's great news.
We'll finally have our own metro.

Phase I of the project, as recommended by DMRC will be completely elevated

It'll look as ugly as Delhi Metro from the streets?

And they'll ruin the newly modernised Ashram Road. It'll Make the city look Verry ugly.

And I can't think how are they going to manage the section from Stadium Cross to Commerce College Cross "overground".

And If we think of a future extension on the Eastern side of the Station, how will they manage that??

I think It's the second biggest mistake after BRTS.

Potential for expansion towards Dholera (SIR) in phase II

First cater the city's needs yaar. Dholera is light years away.


P.S.
BRTS Sucks

[viedumonde]

And I suppose you don't need to buy land for Underground Networks.

And we also don't have a perennial river.

So why don't we think in that direction.

[viedumonde]

Now that this thread has started..... I'd rather show it here

This is not the official map released by the authorities.

[GJ10]

Viedumonde, im really glad to see a forum member from Ahmedabad... its about time!

Great to see how enthusiastic you are about this project, only point id make would be that the decision to build elevated rather than underground is clearly a compromise where cost and time have taken precedence over aesthetics, for a city as large and populous as Ahmedabad, in urgent need of such a system, id have to say its a good call.

I hope im not offending anyone when I say that aesthetically, Ahmedabad wasnt exactly going to win any beauty contests, its not like building an elevated corridor down the Champs Elysees!

I do agree with you with regards to BRTS however, I think its got no place in cities as large or as crowded as Ahmedabad, Id love to be proved wrong though!

[viedumonde]

aesthetically, Ahmedabad wasnt exactly going to win any beauty contests

Ya you're right.

But the authorities have recently converted Ashram "Dirt track" to Ashram "Road", with foot paths and Parking lots(which are very rare in Ahmedabad)

and now with this construction, they're going to ruin it again.

This is the main artery of Ahmedabad. Closing down one side of it will be like a nightmare.
And there are many very important buildings on this road, Atleast the section from Juhapura to Motera should be underground. And as they don't have to go under the river, it won't be a very deep tunnel.

And there is no space for an overhead interchange station at Income Tax.

[bains1971]

Great news well dome Ah.

[GJ10]

Originally Posted by viedumonde

Ya you're right.

But the authorities have recently converted Ashram "Dirt track" to Ashram "Road", with foot paths and Parking lots(which are very rare in Ahmedabad)

and now with this construction, they're going to ruin it again.

This is the main artery of Ahmedabad. Closing down one side of it will be like a nightmare.
And there are many very important buildings on this road, Atleast the section from Juhapura to Motera should be underground. And as they don't have to go under the river, it won't be a very deep tunnel.

And there is no space for an overhead interchange station at Income Tax.

It could also be argued that having a city the size of Ahmedabad without a metro rail system is a much bigger nightmare than disrupting Ashram Rd

In an ideal world, yes, everything would be underground, but there compromises that have to be made in order to provide the services that the city really needs.

I wasnt making a throw-away comment about Ahmedabad not being Paris, what I meant by it was that Ashram Road however modern it may seem by local standards, in global terms is really nothing worth crying over.

The Ahmedabad region has the potential to have a massive future, not just in India, but also globally, thats why we should be focussed on getting the essential infrastructure in place and sorting out all the minor points at the end, if you look at the bigger picture, Ashram Road is not actually all that important.

Especially when, as far as I know, there are meant to be new roads being built as part of the Sabarmati Riverfront Redevelopment, which Im sure will take over in importance from Ashram Road even if no elevated metro was being built along it anyway.

[viedumonde]

I'm just a bit carried away thinking about the cityscape.

But I think It's better to have a Rapid transit system, if at all.

Do you think they'll replace the BRTS too and accumulate that into Metro in Phases. Or they will just not accept even if anything is wrong with it..

I realized that these people have copied the lines from me.

The red line between Thaltej Cross and Kalupur has exactly 11 stations.

[GJ10]

If done well, an elevated track doesnt have to look bad, Ive seen one that I actually thought looked quite cool in Bangkok.

Assuming that the system gets the ridership that it ought to, I have a feeling that in phase II, the most essential route would be pretty close to your lime green line, although Id imagine that Sanand and an Airport loop would be included. But in general, I would not be surprised if the bulk of development was focussed on the West and North of the City.

And tbh, as far as BRTS is concerned, I just think its one big, eco-friendly, publicity stunt that they wont get rid of until its made a loss for at least 10yrs running...

[viedumonde]

But here, we expect work according to the standards of Delhi or Bangalore, which is troll.
The route of the green line is actually very busy, especially on the Nehrunagar-bopal and Kalupur - Naroda sections, and not to forget, the relief road.
But this line has to get underground between Nehrunagar and Asarwa.

The problem with East and South is, there are very few main roads per se, and all the roads are used almost equally.
But for success, the metro should reach Maninagar and vatva GIDC, it would double the Ridership.

I seriously hope BRTS runs with loss. I don't mind waiting 10 more years for more lines.

BTW, do you think they will make a parallel Regional rail as proposed before?

[viedumonde]

Hey GJ10

Can you please change the name of the thread to Ahmedabad instead of Amd.

Ahmedabad is a lot cooler.

[viedumonde]

Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro project: Is there light at the end of Metro tunnel?

AHMEDABAD: Four years after Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) submitted its feasibility report on Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro in June 2005,
there seems to be a renewed buzz in the state urban development ministry. But, if one goes by the DMRC report, a cost of Rs 40 lakh for each day delayed was calculated for the project. However, an interesting fact is that the project was to be completed by March 31, 2010.

The report had recommended Gujarat Industrial development Board (GIDB) to initiate the project in the financial year 2005-06. For this, the construction cost for the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar link for 2005 was estimated to be Rs 4,295 crore. And, the cost escalation because of the delay in implementation of project since June 2005, was estimated at an additional Rs 584 crore excluding the project land cost.

Not only this, DMRC report also suggested that there was a huge potential of a few growth centres like townships between Motera-Koba circle and Indroda circle, which comes under both Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar urban development authorities.

The return expected out of the realty business on this stretch was calculated to almost Rs 1,500 crore over a period of 10 to 15 years. In fact, DMRC had proposed a hike in the value of floor space index (FSI) from the present 1.8 to 2.7, along the corridor. The area to be developed, is within the 3 km radius of the corridor. However, this could not be carried out as most of the plots alongside the corridor were either sold or were utilised for other purposes.

The land required in the project was estimated to be about 69.89 hectares out of which 60.24 hectares belonged to the state government, public sector and municipal corporation, while only 9.65 hectares is supposed to be private land.

For part funding of the project, DMRC had recommended an increased FSI within 1 km radius along the metro corridor which would be sold to the developer. The report also recommended the charging a "betterment fee" for development along the corridor.

"In fact, a proposal is being made to increase the FSI along BRTS and metro corridor, making the stretch more attractive. Many companies will open their offices here along with townships. We call this transit oriented development and this would fuel the metro providing passengers living and moving for work along the corridor," says a senior GIDB officer.

Courtesy TOI

[viedumonde]

Chug along for just Rs 8

AHMEDABAD: How much will you have to pay for a metro ticket? Feasibility report made by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in June 2005
estimated that ticket will cost anywhere between Rs 8 for a maximum of two km and Rs 25 for a maximum of 45 km by the time the project would be implemented in March 2010.

The fare structure for Ahmedabad metro was based on the fare model of Delhi Metro. The feasibility report, however, had taken the average trip rates of commuters of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar for calculating fares for specific distances.

The study had indicated that the project at the initial stage would see 6.75 lakh trips a day and escalate by around 3.8 per cent by 2035. The maximum commuters would be those travelling for distances around four to six km, which would form 25 per cent of the total trips, followed closely by those who would travel in the six to nine km range and constitute 24.25 per cent of the total trips.

DMRC had estimated other revenue sources to meet a majority of the operation and maintenance cost of the project. Apart from a viability gap fund of Rs 1,500 crore, revenues for the project were to be generated through property development and advertisements. These were to constitute 10 per cent of the fare box revenue collected at 42 stations of the metro.

Other sources of revenue were identified as leasing of parking rights at stations, advertisements on trains, tickets, parking lots, viaducts of metro rail, columns of metro station building and so on. Another revenue-generating activity suggested by DMRC was offering co-branding rights to corporates, film shootings and special events on metro premises.

"Most of the revenue-generating activities suggested were to help keep the ticket costs low. It is true that ticket costs are independent of operation and maintenance costs. But if one manages to create alternative source of income, it can cover most of the operation costs of the project," said a senior Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) official.

It's too expensive for short distance travellers.

[kronik]

Originally Posted by viedumonde

Now that this thread has started..... I'd rather show it here

This is not the official map released by the authorities.

that is one super-regional system, running all the way down to Bhavnagar and Baroda!
so the system runs close to 900 km.

Sorry, i am not able to figure out - this whole thing is a metro system right?

[viedumonde]

@ Kronik

Ya it is a super-regional system, but the whole system is not metro system.

It is based partly on the Paris model of a Metro and a parallel RER (suburban railway).
So all the lines in the Ahmedabad city region are metro, from which I still have to separate the overground and underground lines.

At the termination of Metro lines (with the black box symbol), the Suburban lines emerge which reach out to the suburban towns.
And most of the Black lines are routes on Indian Railway's tracks, but some portions are added to enhance the system.

And yes, if you don't count the Black lines, the system is of 900 km.
This is unlikely to happen in the next 100 years atleast.

But the government has planned to follow the red and Blue lines.

[Arul Murugan]

Nice,

But if the thread is renamed it will be useful for google searchers.

Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar full name inclusion will show SSC in first page of google if some one search for metro updates.

[viedumonde]

How can we do that?

[GJ10]

I will send a message to a mod to change the title.

Also, I think its important to reiterate that viedumonde's map is his own creation and nothing to do with the official MEGA system.

[GJ10]

Metro Project: Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Four years after Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) submitted its feasibility report on Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro in June 2005,
there seems to be a renewed buzz in the state urban development ministry. But, if one goes by the DMRC report, a cost of Rs 40 lakh for each day delayed was calculated for the project. However, an interesting fact is that the project was to be completed by March 31, 2010.

The report had recommended Gujarat Industrial development Board (GIDB) to initiate the project in the financial year 2005-06. For this, the construction cost for the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar link for 2005 was estimated to be Rs 4,295 crore. And, the cost escalation because of the delay in implementation of project since June 2005, was estimated at an additional Rs 584 crore excluding the project land cost.

Not only this, DMRC report also suggested that there was a huge potential of a few growth centres like townships between Motera-Koba circle and Indroda circle, which comes under both Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar urban development authorities.

The return expected out of the realty business on this stretch was calculated to almost Rs 1,500 crore over a period of 10 to 15 years. In fact, DMRC had proposed a hike in the value of floor space index (FSI) from the present 1.8 to 2.7, along the corridor. The area to be developed, is within the 3 km radius of the corridor. However, this could not be carried out as most of the plots alongside the corridor were either sold or were utilised for other purposes.

The land required in the project was estimated to be about 69.89 hectares out of which 60.24 hectares belonged to the state government, public sector and municipal corporation, while only 9.65 hectares is supposed to be private land.

For part funding of the project, DMRC had recommended an increased FSI within 1 km radius along the metro corridor which would be sold to the developer. The report also recommended the charging a "betterment fee" for development along the corridor.

"In fact, a proposal is being made to increase the FSI along BRTS and metro corridor, making the stretch more attractive. Many companies will open their offices here along with townships. We call this transit oriented development and this would fuel the metro providing passengers living and moving for work along the corridor," says a senior GIDB officer.