GANDHINAGAR, India — The Gujarat government has ordered 34 new metro train sets for the Ahmedabad and Surat metro rail projects, officials said Wednesday, as the state moves to expand urban rail services and improve public transport capacity.
Of the total order, 10 train sets will be used for the Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2 project, while the remaining 24 are designated for the upcoming Surat Metro system.
The train sets are being manufactured at Titagarh’s production facility in Kolkata.
Officials said the procurement is part of the state’s broader efforts to strengthen public transportation infrastructure. The initiative is also expected to support employment and skill development in the manufacturing sector while reducing reliance on imported rolling stock.
The additional train sets for Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2 will operate on the Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar corridor, where a 68.2-kilometer metro network is already in service.
Currently, 32 train sets operate on the corridor. Officials said the addition of 10 new trains will help increase service frequency, reduce waiting times for passengers, and improve overall carrying capacity for commuters traveling between the two cities.
Metro rail services in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar were initially planned during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat chief minister.
The Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project’s Phase-1 and Phase-2 have since been implemented under the current state government led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and the system is now widely used by commuters across the twin cities.
Meanwhile, construction of the Surat Metro project is underway on a planned 40.3-kilometer network.
The state government has ordered 24 train sets for the Surat system, which is expected to serve the city’s growing population and offer an alternative to road-based transportation once operational.
Officials said the metro expansion is part of a larger strategy to strengthen urban mobility across Gujarat.
The state currently operates about 108 kilometers of metro rail network, which is projected to expand to around 190 kilometers in the coming years.
The planned expansion also includes a proposed 6.04-kilometer airport metro line intended to improve connectivity.
Authorities are also evaluating proposals to introduce metro rail systems in other major cities, including Rajkot and Vadodara, as part of efforts to extend modern public transportation to more urban centers.
According to officials, the new metro systems will incorporate driverless technology designed to improve operational efficiency and safety.
The train sets will include systems for real-time monitoring, automated braking, optimized speed control, and advanced fault diagnostics.
Passenger safety features will include CCTV surveillance, fire detection systems, fail-safe door operations, and obstacle detection technology.
The state government is also pursuing other major rail infrastructure projects, including the high-speed rail corridor passing through Gujarat and a locomotive manufacturing facility at Dahod that is expected to produce 9,000-horsepower engines.
Officials said these initiatives are part of a broader effort to expand rail-based transportation and modernize infrastructure across the state. (Source: IANS)
