The Chief Minister's Office of Gujarat announced on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 that the Union Cabinet, meeting in New Delhi under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Koteshwar Road–Airport corridor under Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase 2(A), at an estimated cost of ₹2,169 crore. The approved corridor spans 6 kilometres and will include five new stations, extending metro connectivity to Ahmedabad's international airport. The post, originally in Gujarati, states: 'અંદાজે ₹2169 કરોડના ખર્ચે 6 કિલોમીટર જેટલા લાંબા આ વિસ્તરણ હેઠળ પાંચ સ્ટેશનોનો સમાવેશ થશે' ('At an estimated cost of ₹2,169 crore, this approximately 6-kilometre extension will include five stations').

Context

The Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project has been under central government backing since 2014, when the Union Cabinet granted in-principle approval for Phase 1, covering approximately 40 kilometres across foundational corridors in the city. The latest cabinet decision extends that network further north-west, bridging a critical gap between the city's residential interior and its aviation and sports infrastructure. The corridor runs from Koteshwar Road to the airport, passing through zones that include two of Ahmedabad's most prominent landmarks. The approval marks a continuation of the phased build-out strategy that has characterised the project since its inception.

Policy Backdrop

India's urban metro policy has consistently prioritised airport linkages in tier-1 cities, treating seamless last-mile air-connectivity as a benchmark for modern urban transit. The Ahmedabad Phase 2(A) approval fits squarely within this national template, which has seen successive cabinet notes across multiple cities extend metro lines to airports and major public venues. Funding for such corridors typically combines central viability-gap support with state equity contribution and external institutional loans. The ₹2,169 crore outlay for a 6 km stretch reflects the capital-intensive nature of urban elevated or underground metro construction in dense city environments.

Stakeholders and Impact

Beyond airport users, the corridor will directly serve two major sports venues: Narendra Modi Stadium — the world's largest cricket stadium by seating capacity — and the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave. On high-footfall match days and events, metro access to these venues is expected to significantly reduce vehicular congestion in the surrounding areas. Ahmedabad commuters living along the Koteshwar Road belt stand to gain daily, pollution-free public transport access to the airport precinct. The CMO's announcement specifically highlighted that the new corridor will provide citizens with 'modern, fast, comfortable and pollution-free public transport,' in line with the broader national push for green urban mobility.

What's Next

Attention will now shift to construction tendering and land acquisition for the 6 km stretch, both of which are critical determinants of the project's actual delivery timeline. Remaining segments of Phase 2 beyond the 2(A) sub-corridor are also expected to be the subject of follow-up cabinet consideration. With the airport corridor now cleared, the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation will be expected to move swiftly on procurement processes to maintain momentum built by the central approval.