MEGA board approves fresh DPR for A'bad metro rail project

After the announcement of the new route for Ahmedabad Metro, the Board of Metro-Link Express between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) has approved its fresh detailed project report (DPR).  The DPR has been prepared by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and has now been forwarded to the Centre for further approvals.

MEGA has proposed to build metro rail network for Ahmedabad city with route length of about 36 km comprising of 32 stations. New routes were announced recently after a new management took over the reins of MEGA in 2013.

The revised routes will now serve for East-West corridor from Thaltej gam to Vastral with one maintenance depot at New Cotton Mill premises, whereas North-South line will serve APMC, Vasna to Motera with one maintenance depot at Vasna area.

MEGA will be operational on standard gauge with designed speed of 80 KMPH. Initially 3 car train will be operational which will be gradually increased to 6 cars as per the demand.

Under the new management, the total project cost now also stands revised at Rs 10,000 crore down from the previous Rs 19000 crore. However, MEGA intends to retain the original deadline for the project to be operational at 2018, construction work for which will start in 2014.

According to MEGA, while the permanent land requirement for stations, depot, casting yard, ramp and running section is around 77.406 hectares, the company will need another 10 hectares for property development.