Late-night metro rides have finally become a reality for commuters in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. In a major relief for office-goers, students, and late-evening commuters, Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro services will now operate until 11pm from Monday, following the Gujarat cabinet's approval of extended operational hours.
Decision Amid Fuel Conservation Appeal
The decision comes amid growing calls for wider use of public transport after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to conserve fuel in view of the current global situation. The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) announced revised schedules across the East-West and North-South corridors, including extended services on the Gandhinagar stretch.
Background: Earlier Concerns
In an article titled "Capital punishment? Metro trains go home before commuters" published on May 16, TOI highlighted how the Metro's Yellow Line services ended around 8pm, forcing commuters leaving late from GIFT City, Infocity, and government offices in Gandhinagar to rely on cabs or personal vehicles. Urban planners and commuters had repeatedly argued that the closing time for the Gandhinagar corridor was impractical for a rapidly expanding capital region packed with IT firms, universities, coaching institutes, and financial hubs operating beyond conventional office hours. Sources in GIFT City indicated that discussions were underway with GMRC to improve train frequency and extend connectivity for employees working late shifts.
Revised Schedule Details
Under the new schedule, the last metro from Mahatma Mandir will now depart at 9pm instead of 8.09pm and continue via Koteshwar to APMC. Similarly, the last train from Koteshwar to Mahatma Mandir, which previously left at 7.43pm, will now depart at 9.20pm. Additional services will also run at 8.17pm and 9.20pm on this route.
On the East-West corridor, the last train from Vastral Gam towards Thaltej Gam, previously scheduled at 10pm, has been extended to 11pm. Additional departures will operate at 10.20pm, 10.40pm, and 11pm. From Thaltej Gam, the last metro to Vastral Gam will now leave at 11pm instead of 10pm, with extra services at 10.20pm, 10.40pm, and 11pm.
On the North-South corridor, the last metro from APMC to Koteshwar will now depart at 11.10pm instead of 10.10pm, with additional services at 10.30pm, 10.50pm, and 11.10pm. From Koteshwar to APMC, the last train timing has been pushed from 10.05pm to 11pm, with added departures at 10.20pm, 10.40pm, and 11pm.
GMRC Appeal and Ridership Growth
GMRC officials stated that detailed schedules have been uploaded on the corporation's official website and appealed to commuters to make greater use of metro services. The extension comes at a time when ridership on the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro network continues to rise sharply. Since operations began in 2022, the network has carried approximately 13.4 crore passengers, while average daily ridership has climbed to nearly 1.52 lakh passengers between January and April 2026.
Benefits for Commuters
Officials noted that the decision to extend services will significantly benefit employees working in Gandhinagar's institutional and business corridor, including GIFT City, Infocity, and nearby university campuses.
