"AMC Plans to Remove BRTS-Obstructing Metro Pillar in Akhbarnagar"

A glaring oversight highlighting the lack of coordination between the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has surfaced, resulting in a wasteful allocation of public funds. For nearly a year, pillar P-355 of the Vasna-Motera metro corridor has been obstructing the BRTS lane in Akhbarnagar.

An AMC official disclosed, "We will be reducing the height of the metro pillar by six inches to restore BRTS services. The BRTS corridor has been blocked by the metro pillar for almost a year now. One side of the BRTS corridor, between Kitli Circle in Akhbarnagar and Vyaswadi, has remained non-operational, while the metro services above continue to operate." BRTS buses have been compelled to take detours, bypassing the Akhbarnagar BRTS stand on one side.

The solution, reached after a year of communication between AMC and GMRC, entails shaving six inches off the P-355 pillar to facilitate the passage of buses.

The fiasco began in 2021 when civic utility lines were damaged during metro rail construction, necessitating subsequent repairs. These included the Akhbarnagar Circle stormwater line, the Akhbarnagar to Vyaswadi catchpits and stormwater line, and the drainage line between Vyaswadi and Palak Junction, including its extension towards RTO Circle.

Moreover, a drainage line and stormwater line had to be diverted due to their location in front of MLA Shailesh Parmar’s residence.

"In total, 15 stormwater lines and drainage lines, including those around Thaltej village and from Naranpura Crossing towards Sanghvi Crossing, underwent repair and reinstatement," the senior AMC official added.

Additionally, significant damage was incurred by the 132 Foot Ring Road through Akhbarnagar, Subhash Bridge Circle, Sabarmati Powerhouse towards Motera trijunction, and Motera village to Tapovan Circle, owing to the metro rail corridor construction.

ET