Rs 1000-cr plan for local trains

Surendra Patel, chairman, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) recently announced that both AUDA and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), were contemplating a Rs 1,000-crore project to introduce local trains covering the Corporation as well as the AUDA areas for providing speedy transport system through railway network.

Speaking at a seminar under the auspices of NILPA, Mr Patel said that discussions initiated by him with transport experts and senior officials of railways were in progress on the proposal submitted by Sudhakar Shah, former general manager of the Railway ‘Technical and Economic Services.

According to this proposal, the main railway station of the city Kalupur is to be linked with Kalupur bus station, Navrangpura, Sarkhej and Barejadi.

P K Laheri, additional chief secretary said that both AUDA and AMC should get the technical report prepared in consultation with transportation experts.

French and Japanese companies have shown their willingness to invest in the transport sector on a long term basis covering upto 30 years, he said.

He suggested that a tram type transport system could he developed on the tracks already available with the railways to provide immediate relief to people.

He also gave details of the proposed Sabarmati river-road project between Subhash Bridge and Sarkhej