GMRC Banks on Sachivalaya Route to Lift Metro Ridership

The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) continues to face obstacles in increasing ridership on the Metro Rail service, with daily passenger numbers remaining below expectations. At present, approximately 1.18 lakh passengers use the metro within Ahmedabad every day, while around 2,500 commuters travel to Gandhinagar.

To address this shortfall, GMRC is concentrating efforts on the Sachivalaya route, which is expected to become operational by June this year. Trial runs on this route are already in progress.

In January, the highest monthly ridership to date was over 39.5 lakh passengers and a revenue of ₹4.71 crore, attributed largely to the two-day Coldplay concert held during that period. Despite improvements in ridership from 26.99 lakh in March 2024 to 35.53 lakh in March 2025, many metro trains continue to operate with low passenger counts, particularly on connecting routes.

A key issue identified by GMRC officials is the lack of parking facilities at several metro stations. A passenger who travelled to Motera from Jivraj Park station reported having to park his vehicle at a nearby complex due to the absence of designated parking near the station.

The Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro line, inaugurated in September 2024, recorded an average of 2,000 daily passengers till February, which increased to 2,500 in March. Most of the commuters on this route include civil servants and students heading to GIFT City. Authorities anticipate a further rise in numbers once the Sachivalaya extension becomes operational.

The full Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro network is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Gandhinagar corridor, featuring major stops such as Mahatma Mandir, Akshardham, Sachivalaya, GIFT City, and Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), is projected to significantly improve connectivity and attract more riders. 

GMRC also plans to increase train frequency during peak hours in an effort to encourage a shift from bus transport to the metro system.