New Delhi/Ahmedabad, Feb 21 (.) With an eye on hosting major global events, including the Commonwealth Games, Ahmedabad is accelerating efforts to build a seamless and integrated public transport network, with plans to add 1,000 new buses in the near term, an official statement said here on Saturday.
Speaking on Day 1 of AmdavadNXT — a three-day exhibition and mobility convening at the Sabarmati Riverfront House — Municipal Commissioner Shri Banchhanidhi Pani (IAS) said the city’s growth ambitions are closely tied to strengthening public transport systems.
He stressed that seamless mobility will be critical for both residents and visitors as Ahmedabad prepares for larger global platforms. The city is working to better integrate the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS), Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation. Efforts are also underway to ensure transport connectivity across AUDA areas to provide smooth mobility across the entire urban agglomeration.
As part of this push, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) plans to procure 1,000 buses in the near term, with a long-term target of scaling the fleet up to 3,000 buses by 2030. The new buses will be interoperable across AMTS and BRTS corridors to improve operational efficiency and flexibility.
The city is also focusing on smart parking solutions, multimodal integration, and advancing plans for a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) to strengthen regional connectivity.
Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, M Thennarasan, said the government is committed to making public transport affordable and accessible, especially through improved last-mile connectivity. He highlighted the use of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mechanisms to support ticketing systems and ensure financial sustainability. Additionally, 450 electric buses are planned under the PM e-Bus initiative.
State Urban Development and Housing Minister Darshanaben Mukeshbhai Vaghela urged citizens to shift from private vehicles to public transport, saying greater adoption would help build a more sustainable and inclusive city.
Organised by AMC under the SHIFT Transport coalition, in partnership with WRI India and several civic and community stakeholders, AmdavadNXT brought together over 60 schools, colleges, NGOs, medical associations, and resident groups.
The event featured an immersive exhibition tracing Ahmedabad’s public transport journey — from AMTS to BRTS to Metro — along with dialogues on the future of urban mobility.
Urban mobility experts at the event emphasized that the city’s future growth depends on effectively integrating buses, metro services, walking, cycling, and shared mobility into one coordinated network, while keeping citizens’ health, sustainability, and climate goals at the centre of planning.
As Ahmedabad positions itself for global attention, AmdavadNXT has set the stage for a more connected, sustainable, and people-centric transport future.
. SAS JRC