Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 welcomed the Union Cabinet's approval of Phase-2A of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project — the Koteshwar Road–Airport Corridor — at an estimated cost of ₹2,169.04 crore, calling it a significant step in strengthening urban infrastructure under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Context

Singh posted on X in Hindi, stating: 'केंद्रीय कैबिनेट द्वारा अहमदाबाद मेट्रो रेल परियोजना के फेज-2A (कोटेश्वर रोड–एयरपोर्ट कॉरिडोर) को मंजूरी दिया जाना इसी दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है' ['The Union Cabinet's approval of Phase-2A of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project (Koteshwar Road–Airport Corridor) is an important step in this direction']. The minister credited PM Modi's leadership for the country's 'continuous strengthening of urban basic infrastructure.' The new corridor is positioned to improve connectivity while simultaneously reducing traffic pressure and pollution in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest city.

Policy Backdrop

The Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project has been a centrepiece of the central government's urban mobility push since Phase-1 was approved around 2014–15. The project forms part of a broader national drive to expand metro rail networks in major Indian cities — aimed at easing road congestion, cutting vehicular emissions, and providing affordable mass rapid transit. The Union Cabinet has periodically approved new phases and corridors across cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Chennai under central funding frameworks that share project costs between the Centre and the respective state governments.

Ahmedabad, as a major economic and industrial hub, has seen sustained infrastructure investment in recent years, with the metro network intended to integrate key nodes including commercial zones, residential areas, and the city's international airport.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Koteshwar Road–Airport Corridor is expected to directly benefit daily commuters travelling between residential neighbourhoods and Ahmedabad's airport, reducing dependence on private vehicles and intermediate public transport. Urban residents across the city stand to gain from reduced congestion on arterial roads that feed into the airport zone. The project is also expected to generate employment during the construction phase and support ancillary economic activity along the corridor.

Environmental advocates and urban planners have long argued that metro connectivity in high-density corridors offers one of the most effective levers for reducing urban air pollution — a concern that Ahmedabad, like many Indian metros, faces acutely. Singh's post specifically flagged pollution reduction as a key anticipated outcome of the new corridor.

What's Next

Following Cabinet approval, the immediate milestones for the Phase-2A corridor will include tendering of civil and systems contracts, land acquisition processes, and the formal commencement of construction. Observers will also watch for any linked approvals covering remaining phases of the Ahmedabad Metro expansion, which could further extend the network's reach across the city. The pace of execution will be closely tracked given the project's visibility as a flagship urban infrastructure initiative ahead of future electoral cycles in Gujarat.