Apart from Vision 2025, a composite transport requirement study for
Ahmedabad and its expanding suburbs up to the year 2035 was
conducted by Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) and
CEPT University . The study provided a detailed picture of a future
transportation scenario.

The study estimates that about 65 lakh passenger trips would be
catered to by the integrated public transport system, which includes
the metro, suburban rail, AMTS and BRTS system. The bus and rail-
based services are supposed to share equal passenger load.

Suburban rail corridor

A regional rail corridor would come up on additional space available
along the existing rail line. Initially, plans for a Barejadi-
Kalupur-Kalol line and direct service between Kalupur and Naroda
were proposed . The third corridor which is being discussed is the
airport link from the Kalupur-Naroda line, while a rail line is
proposed for Vasna-Sabarmati route, and another for Sarkhej-
Gandhinagar route via NH-8 .

Metro corridor

The present project report for metro rail proposes a total area
route of 99.65 km at this stage, that would connect state capital
Gandhinagar and important destinations in Ahmedabad. The first phase
takes up 54.75 km.

However, the new plan for which the Singapore Chambers for Commerce
and Industry is interested in is the Gandhinagar-Dholera via
Ahmedabad route, with a direct connectivity to Fedara international
airport that would come up 20 km from Dholera. The combined air
passenger traffic would increase to 20,350 at Fedara and the
existing Sardar Patel international airport. Apart from four metro
lines proposed are a metro corridor along the Sabarmati riverfront,
Vasna-Sabarmati route along 132-feet ring road while a proposed
extension to GIFT city is under active consideration. The metro rail
would connect a logistic and manufacturing hub that would form part
of the DMIC corridor, townships that would come up in the vicinity
and GIFT city.

BRTS corridor

As per existing plans the BRTS network would comprise a 120.5-km
network after three phases of the plan come up. The Ahmedabad BRTS
corridor has been designed on Colombian economic model. By providing
additional floor space index along BRTS corridor, the land-use
pattern plan along the corridor would encourage developers to come
up with commercial spaces and residential zones that will fuel BRTS
system by providing passengers. This would allow developers to come
up with multi-storied complexes. The existing BRTS network passes
through two critical central business districts like SG road, Ashram
road, while busy commercial areas in the intermediary circle of the
city would provide it with additional passengers. The third phase of
BRTS project would connect GIFT city to Gandhinagar and Bopal, while
Gujarat University would be connected in phase 2 of the BRTS plan.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/GET_READY_FOR_REVOLUTION
_on_WHEELS/articleshow/3349868.cms

11 Aug 2008, 0408 hrs IST