The Ahmedabad Metro continues to tread a cautious path despite signs of improvement in ridership. As of now, the daily average footfall remains around 1.18 lakh passengers within the city limits, with a modest 2,500 boarding for Gandhinagar. Though the network is gradually expanding, passenger trust and convenience remain key missing links in Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation’s journey towards building a sustainable and accessible public transit system.
A closer look at the data reveals that January 2025 marked the metro’s best-performing month, with ridership surging past 39.5 lakh passengers and generating over ₹4.7 crore in revenue. However, officials attribute this unusual spike to a singular event—the Coldplay concert—rather than regular commuter dependence. Even with newer routes being added, many metro coaches continue to run nearly empty, especially during non-peak hours. In contrast, March 2025 showed year-on-year growth, climbing from 26.99 lakh passengers in March 2024 to 35.53 lakh—a positive trajectory but still below full potential.
The challenge, according to both citizens and officials, is not the availability of trains but the lack of integrated access. Commuters struggle with the absence of secure and dedicated parking near metro stations, making it inconvenient for those who rely on personal vehicles to reach the network. A resident from Memnagar who recently travelled to the Narendra Modi Stadium voiced concern over having to park in an unsecured open lot near the old high court. Without formal pay-and-park facilities, many passengers are discouraged from using the service regularly.
These infrastructural voids not only limit adoption but also signal missed opportunities in sustainable urban mobility. A manager at a private bank expressed frustration at not knowing that feeder buses had already been introduced. This information gap reflects a need for stronger communication and outreach strategies by the authorities to bridge last-mile issues. The potential is evident—during high-profile events or matches, the metro sees encouraging usage patterns, suggesting that citizens are willing to embrace public transport if their basic commuting needs are addressed.
The Gandhinagar corridor, operational since September 2024, has yet to make a major dent in overall figures. Although daily average ridership was stagnant around 2,000 initially, March saw a bump to 2,500—a number officials hope will rise with growing awareness. The launch of a direct service between APMC and Old High Court in February 2025 is seen as a key move in this direction. As students and professionals heading to GIFT City and beyond begin to adopt the service, GMRC expects footfalls to stabilise around 1.4 lakh by the end of the year.
While Ahmedabad’s metro story is progressing, it is clear that infrastructure without empathy for commuter needs falls short. Until seamless connectivity and secure station access become standard, the service will struggle to fully embed itself into the daily rhythm of the city. The onus lies with authorities to deliver not just trains but trust—a sustainable, commuter-first solution that meets the pace and aspirations of a rapidly urbanising population.
Ahmedabad metro struggles with last-mile issues despite strong infrastructure and new route
