Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro open to public from March 2019

The Metro-Express Link for Gandhinagar Ahmedabad (MEGA) authorities have confirmed that people would be able to ride the metro by March 2019. Also, according to sources, on January 17, 2019, the trial run of the metro rail is going to be inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi.

"After trial run inauguration, the train will take some time and by March 2019, it will be open for public commutation," said a senior official.

The three train coaches have been shipped from South Korea and will arrive at Mundra Port by December 29, 2018. "If things go as per schedule, we will conduct a trial of the train in January. By January 2 or 3, 2019, we will have the train here in Ahmedabad," said I P Gautam, managing director, MEGA.

It is to be noted that after a tsunami hitting Indonesia, there were chances of a delay in the metro rail shipment to India. However, it is expected to arrive as per schedule. The other train will be in by January end or the first week of February. After the three coaches reach Ahmedabad, they will be put on different trials for two and a half months.

"According to international standards, different agencies will conduct trial runs of the metro. A total of three trial runs will happen in the coming two and a half months," said Gautam.

MEGA has constructed a special track for the trials. "At Apparel Depot, a special track for trial has been constructed which is more than a kilometer long. For almost two weeks, the train will take trials on this track and henceforth, the train will do up and down on the original tracks," said the director.

Further inspections are going to be conducted by the Research Design and Standards Organization which will check further trial runs of the train before giving it a green signal for public commutation.

32 trains to run in first phase

There will be a total of 32 trains for the first phase. At Apparel Depot, more than ten tracks are ready where 16 trains will be kept. The trains will run between six stations in the priority reach area from Vastral to Apparel Park. The six stations are Vastral Gam, Nirant Cross roads, Vastral, Rabari Colony, Amraiwadi and Apparel Park in the East-west corridor.

What’s In Store

• Metro Rail Phase One will integrate Indian Railways, BRTS, GSRTC
• Two corridors in first phase
• North-South Corridor (APMC to Motera) – 18.522km elevated with 15 elevated stations
• East-West corridor (Thaljej Gam to Vastral Gam) – 14.40km elevated, 6.355km underground. With 13 elevated stations and 4 underground stations.
• Total 32 trains to ply