The Gujarat government has decided to put on hold the proposed Rs 3,591.73 crore Metro Rail project between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, even after accepting the detailed project report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in October 2004.

In response to a series of oral and written representations by local service organisations, the state government, in 2003, had engaged the DMRC to prepare a DPR for the project.

The feasibility report contained all aspects of the project, including selection of the corridors and its environmental impact. It was submitted to the government in August 2004, which accepted the same in October that year.

The government's decision to put on hold the Metro Rail project was conveyed to the Gandhinagar Shaher Vasahad Mahamandal, a local NGO, by the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) through a letter dated March 1, 2008 in response to an information sought by the Mahamandal under the RTI Act on the latest status of the proposed project.

"The GIDB has informed me that the government has not taken any decision to implement the proposed Metro Rail project and that it is focusing only on the Bus Rapid Transport System for Ahmedabad. I have also been conveyed that the government proposes to invite private players during the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit in January 2009 to invest in the Rs 3,591 crore project," said Mahamandal president Arun Buch.

"The local NGOs have been making consistent representations to the state government to introduce a metro rail system between the twin cities for the past two decades to provide hassle-free service to the commuters. Way back in 1987, even the Public Undertaking Committee (PUC) of the state Assembly had recommended to the government for a metro rail system after eliciting views of service organisations on the issue. But despite all this and also the DRP submitted by the DMRC, the government has decided to defer the project," he said.

He added that even Minister of State for Railways Narainbhai Rathwa had promised in February this year that the Centre would extend assistance to the state government if it sent a formal proposal for the project. "The Centre has already provided funds for such projects in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore," he said.

A 22-page document containing executive summary of the DPR on the Metro Rail system recommended that the project was feasible and could be implemented in four years in a phased-manner after being sanctioned, with preliminary works to be taken up immediately after approval of the DPR by the state government. It also said that the presence of a good public transport system could deliver better environmental conditions, faster travel and better mobility and economic growth.

The DPR also recommended that the project be implemented on the Delhi model, with 40 per cent of the project cost to be funded through equity shared between the two governments, and the government land (for the project) to be made available free of cost by the state. The balance amount was to be raised as loan from the domestic market.

A 32.65-kilometre metro corridor between Vishala in Ahmedabad and Akshradham in Gandhinagar (via Ashram Road) and another 10.90 km track between Kalupur and Thaltej (via Delhi Darwaza) had been recommended for the first phase. In the second phase, the Metro corridor was to be developed on the Changodar-Sarkhej-Maktampur-Vasna-Income-tax Circle-Sabarmati-Motera and Koba Circle to connect the twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

A total of 42 stations were to be provided on the two corridors. The stations were to be provided with elevated concourse in the Ahmedabad area, while in Gandhinagar the concourse was to be provided on the sides due to availability of sufficient land.

The DPR also suggested a huge potential for the development of townships between Koba Circle and Indroda near Gandhinagar along the metro rail system, with an estimated return of Rs 2,500 crore from property (commercial and residential) in the next 10 to 15 years.