Ahmedabad metro rail project put on fast track

Gujarat CM asks DMRC to modify detailed project report.

Even while the work on Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) is in process, Ahmedabad might its own metro rail sooner than expected.

Buoyed by the upcoming metro rail projects in the country, Gujarat government has re-approached Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for a modified detailed project report (DRP) for a metro rail project in Ahmedabad.

Talking about the modified DRP on the sidelines of launch of Bombardier's rail vehicle manufacturing unit at Savli in Vadodara, E Sreedharan, managing director of DMRC said that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had recently approached the corporation to prepare a modified DRP on Ahmedabad metro rail to expedite commissioning of the project.

“The Gujarat chief minister had approached us and asked us to prepare a modified DRP as it wants to extend the network to new residential areas that are being developed. However, we have suggested the state government to go ahead with the project as per the previous DRP since the extension of metro network can take place anytime later,” said Sreedharan, adding that work on the metro project in Ahmedabad may now move at a faster rate given the CM's enthusiasm.

DMRC had prepared and submitted a DRP around three years ago. Accordingly, the metro project is estimated to cost around Rs 3,200 crore. According to the report, a metro rail line can be laid up between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar and north-south and east-west corridors of Ahmedabad that can solve the teething problems of traffic.