Monorail & Skybus planned for Ahmedabad

An elevated railway will chug through the walled city on the east bank of the Sabarmati, covering a 30-km circular route. Infrastructure major Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Infrastructure Development Projects Limited on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth Rs 5000 crore with Gujarat Urban Development Corporation (GUDC) for a mono rail project. K Venkatesh, vice president, L&T confirmed the development. A mono rail runs on an elevated track and uses less space. Transport systems like metro rail and Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) are unlikely work in the congested walled city area. The agreement was signed following a preliminary technical study. The route will cover Kalupur, Geeta Mandir (State Transport depot), Sardar Bridge, Ellis Bridge, Nehru Bridge, Gandhi Bridge, Dudheshwar, Subhash Bridge and back to Kalupur. Subsequently, more areas up to Sardar Patel International Airport are likely to be covered in the second phase. “A detailed project report will be prepared now. Once through, further discussions will be held with GUDC,” he said. Primary estimates suggest the project would cost Rs 100 crore per km. GUDC officials say L&T has also submitted a Rs 20,000-crore proposal for metro rail. Two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were likely to be signed between L&T and the state government. However, an agreement for mono rail was inked.

As the city awaits a metro rail project, an infrastructure company has proposed a sky bus on the Sardar Patel Ring Road. IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd. (ITNL) signed an MoU for a Rs 500-crore sky bus project linking a 15-km stretch from Sarkhej to Science City via Changodar circle, Ambli, Bopal, Thaltej and Bhadaj. Officials say once commissioned about one lakh passengers would be able to travel everyday. If the project succeeds in Ahmedabad, it will be replicated in other cities too.