Gandhinagar: Ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games , Gujarat govt is planning a network of four bus ports and four multimodal transport hubs around Ahmedabad to improve the city’s connectivity with North Gujarat, Saurashtra, Central Gujarat and South Gujarat, while making intercity and interstate travel more efficient.




The projects are proposed to be developed through a public-private partnership . Further work is required on site surveys, demand assessment, multimodal integration, environmental and social impact studies, financial feasibility and tender documentation. “A presentation in this regard has been made at the top level in govt. Development and commercial components, as well as the implementation framework for the wider network, remain subject to further planning and approvals,” said a source.




According to a project presentation prepared by the state urban development department (UDD) for Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service ( AMTS ), the proposed bus ports will come up at Amiyapur, Kanbha-Bhuvaldi, Bakrol on the Dholera Expressway and Jetalpur. Four multimodal transport hubs are proposed at Acher, Hanspura, Akhbarnagar and Memnagar. The locations have been identified as part of a broader plan to integrate bus services with the city’s road network and existing and proposed public transport systems.




“Metro, roads, bus ports and multimodal hubs will jointly provide connectivity to eight CWG venues: SVP Sports Enclave, Karai Sports Hub, Naranpura Sports Hub, Gujarat University, Transtadia Eka Arena, Vijay Bharati Academy, IIT Gandhinagar and the Mahatma Mandir complex,” a senior official connected with the project said.




The proposed network is expected to distribute passenger movement across multiple entry and exit corridors instead of concentrating intercity bus traffic at a limited number of terminals. The project presentation maps the locations against major highways connecting Ahmedabad and neighbouring regions, including NH-48, NH-47, NH-64 and NH-751, as well as the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway and Sardar Patel Ring Road .




NH-48 is envisaged as the key north-south corridor linking Ahmedabad with Himmatnagar, Udaipur, Surat and Mumbai. NH-47 provides access towards Dahod and Indore, while the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway and NH-64 connect the city with Nadiad, Anand and Vadodara. NH-751 provides connectivity towards Dholera and Bhavnagar.




“The proposed bus ports are intended to serve regional and longer-distance bus operations, while the four MMTHs are planned as interchange points connecting different modes of transport,” said an official.




“Industrial travel will be an important component of the planning of the network. Better integration of bus services with urban transport will support movement of workers and other passengers between industrial areas, residential neighbourhoods and regional centres,” an official said. Ahmedabad’s links with the Naroda-Kathwada industrial belt, Vatva GIDC, the Sanand industrial hub and the Anand-Nadiad corridor are cited as sources of passenger movement in the presentation.