MetroLink Express Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad

MetroLink Express Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) મેટ્રોલિંક એક્સપ્રેસ ગાંધીનગર અને અમદાવાદ (મેગા)
Info
Locale	Gandhinagar & Ahmedabad, India
Transit type	Rapid Transit
Number of lines	5
Website	http://gujaratmetrorail.com/index.html
Operation
Began operation	2011, proposed
Ended operation	2013, proposed
Operator(s)	MEGA
Technical

Metrolink Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) is the proposed mass-transit rail system for the cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, India.

The DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd) has already done its techno-feasibility study and submitted its report. Gujarat government has recently re-approached Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for a modified detailed project report (DRP) for a metro rail project in Ahmedabad.^[2]

The state government will set up a Rs 200 crore company for the execution of the project. The company is likely to be named the Metro Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA).^[3] The formation of MEGA is expected to give a major boost to both the metro rail project and the regional rail project which aims to connect the peripheral areas of Ahmedabad with the dedicated rail link.

History

Metro rail Project to facilitate movement between Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad as an outcome of the IPTS study for Ahmedabad City initiated by Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) to identify the solutions for Urban Transport problem in the city, preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Rail System for Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar was initiated by GIDB in 2003 through Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and RITES. The DPR was submitted by DMRC in June 2005.

As per the DPR, the total project cost was 4295 crore rupees, and the project revenues were estimated based on projected Fare Box revenue. In addition to Fare Box revenue, 10% of Fare Box revenue was estimated to be generated through value capture of property development. Based on above assumptions, the FIRR of the project was estimated to be 4.64%. It was assumed that about 1500 Crore rupees will be generated through property development, and another 1500 Crore would be infused by the Government as Viability Gap Funding. Later, it was decided not to go ahead with Metro Rail project to give priority to the BRTS and Regional Rail system Projects.

Considering the forthcoming developments in and around Ahmedabad – Gandhinagar, in 2008 it was decided to go ahead with the Metro Rail Project. It was also suggested to provide linkages of the Metro Rail System to GIFT City which is required to make it viable and to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

Corridors

The following 5 corridors have been proposed by GIDC and DMRC was assigned the task of preparing alignment study and DPR for the corridors.^[1]

Phase I

• North-South Line: APMC – Paldi - Town Hall - Kalupur Railway Station - Raipur - Elishbridge- Income Tax - Gandhi Ashram - R.T.O - Mothera Stadium-new cg road – Koba Circle – Info City – Sachivalaya - Akshardham (32.65 km)
• East-West Line: Thaltej - Gurukul - Gujarat University - C.G Road - Navrangpura - Lal Darvaza - Kalupur (10.9 km)

Phase I Extension

• Koba Circle – GIFT – Akshardham (10 km)
• Koba Circle – Airport (8 km)

Phase II

• Vasna — Sarkhej (5.5 km)
• Sarkhej — Indroda Circle (32.4 km)
• Sarkhej — Dholera (120 km)

Proposed Infrastructure

The Metro system will be designed to provide high frequency services both during peak hours and off peak hours. Short trains, consisting of 3 coaches each are proposed at the interval of 5 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during off-peak hours. 3 more coaches can be added to these trains with increase in demand.

The salient features of the proposed train operation plan are:

1. Running of services for 19 hours of the day (5 AM to midnight) with a section dwell time of 30 seconds.

2. Make up time of 5-10%, with 8-12% coasting.

3. Scheduled speed of 32 km/h.

The project also consists of construction of elevated corridor with traction system in-order to generate medium capacity Metro Rail System in the city.

The other broad features of the project are:

1. Advance automatic signaling system

2. Integration of high-tech telecommunication facilities like Mobile radio communication system,use of optical fiber cables, network monitoring and management etc.

3. Automatic fare collection system

Each coach train will consist of two driving motor coaches (DMC) and a trailer coach (TC), while 6 coach train will consist of 2 DMCs, 2 MCs (motor coaches) and 2 TCs (Trailer coach.

Recent developments

On December 2009, The 32.65 km North-South Ahmedabad - Gandhinagar line was proposed to be shifted from Ashram Road to parallel regional rail network line of Western Railways operated by Indian Railways as there was no space on Ashram Road. Other reasons state government has declared Sabarmati Ahsram as a silent zone and there is a lack of space for some of the major metro stations - Usmanpura and three stations planned between Paldi and RTO Circle.

On February 2010, The state government has proposed that 10.9 km East-West metro line will be shifted from Income Tax - Shahpur Darwaza - Delhi Darwaza - Prem Darwaza - Kalupur Line towards Relief Road and wants it to be underground. Special Hydraulic platform with a small gradient that would gradually take a stationary metro train to the tunnel level on Relief Road - Kalupur stretch is also being proposed for this line.

On October 2010, Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) chief executive officer AK Sharma said that work on the first phase of the Rs 1,100 crore Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro rail project will start by next year and the line is expected to be operational within two-three years. A newly appointed managing director of MEGA will join later in the month. The metro line, in its second phase, will connect Ahmedabad with Dholera, the site of a special investment region. However, details for the second phase are still to be worked out. Government is in talks with private sector players to involve them in the metro rail project.

Gujarat government has decided to put the estimated Rs 12,000 crore metro rail project on the fast-track.Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) recently submitted its revalidated detailed project report (DPR) on the alignment of metro network to the Gujarat government. Also recommended mostly an elevated route for the first phase of metro, since there are land issues, barring the stretch from Nehru bridge to Ahmedabad junction which will be underground, sources said. For the speedy execution of the metro project, the Gujarat government has already formed a special purpose vehicle -- Metrolink Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) -- with authorised capital of Rs200 crore and initial paid-up capital of Rs10 crore. The metro rail - meant for an estimated 17 lakh commuters daily —- would connect APMC Vasna to Akshardham via Ashram Road, Koba Circle (32.65 km) with 31 stations, and Thaltej to Ahmedabad junction via Sabarmati riverfront and Delhi Darwaja (10.90 km) with 11 stations, in the first phase.^[4]

See also

• Ahmedabad BRTS

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Welcome to GIDB". Gidb.org. http://www.gidb.org/gidb/cms.aspx?content_id=293. Retrieved 2010-07-27. 
2. ^ "Ahmedabad metro rail project put on fast track". Business-standard.com. http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=340107. Retrieved 2010-07-27. 
3. ^ "New firm to speed up Metro in Ahmedabad". dnaindia.com. 2009-05-02. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_new-firm-to-speed-up-metro-in-ahmedabad_1252343. Retrieved 2010-07-27. 
4. ^ "Ahmedabad metro rail project put on fast track". Business-standard.com. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_metro-rail-project-for-ahmedabad-put-on-fast-track_1495529. Retrieved 2010-07-27. 

External links

• Ahmedabad Metro Routes on Google Maps

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_metro-rail-project-for-ahmedabad-put-on-fast-track_1495529

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