NE INFRA BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, FEB 24
Gujarat’s growth narrative received another boost on Tuesday as the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the extension of the Ahmedabad Metro North–South corridor from GIFT City to Shahpur — a move that underscores the state’s continued emphasis on infrastructure-led development.
- Urban Mobility Push Complements Institutional Financing Ecosystem Driving State Development
- 3.33-km Elevated Corridor to Power Business, Education and Employment Connectivity
- Ridership Surge Projections Reflect Expanding Economic Gravity of Ahmedabad–GIFT Belt
- GMRC Implementation to Create Jobs While Strengthening Gujarat’s Integrated Growth Model
The 3.33-km elevated stretch, featuring three new stations, will be developed at an estimated cost of ₹1,067.35 crore and is slated for completion within four years. The expansion is expected to strengthen the rapidly evolving Ahmedabad–GIFT City economic corridor, which hosts multinational firms, educational institutions, and commercial hubs.
The metro expansion aligns with Gujarat’s broader development ecosystem where infrastructure creation, financial institution support, and policy-driven urbanisation converge to accelerate growth. Institutions such as National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), through its wider infrastructure and regional development financing initiatives, complement such projects by enabling balanced economic progress across urban and peri-urban regions.
Passenger demand projections for the new stretch indicate steady uptake, with approximately 23,702 commuters expected by 2029 and nearly 58,059 by 2041, reflecting anticipated economic and population growth along the corridor. The connectivity upgrade will particularly benefit daily travellers commuting between Ahmedabad and GIFT City for business, employment, and education, while enhancing network integration across the metro system.
The project will also generate employment opportunities, with about 1,000 jobs anticipated during construction and roughly 250 roles during operations and maintenance phases. Additional indirect employment is expected through allied economic activity triggered by the project.
Implementation will be undertaken by Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRC), a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat, reinforcing cooperative federal participation in large-scale infrastructure creation.
GMRC background
Ahmedabad Metro’s operational footprint currently spans 68.28 km under Phase-I — connecting APMC to Motera Stadium (North–South) and Thaltej Gam to Vastral Gam (East–West) — alongside Phase-II links from Motera Stadium to Mahatma Mandir and GNLU to GIFT City. With 53 stations commissioned between September 2022 and January 2026 and daily ridership nearing 1.6 lakh passengers, the network has emerged as a critical mobility backbone supporting Gujarat’s expanding urban economy.
The newly approved extension further cements metro connectivity as a strategic lever in Gujarat’s development journey — linking financial districts, residential clusters, and knowledge hubs while reinforcing the state’s reputation for coordinated, infrastructure-driven growth.
