The lack of coordination between Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the wastage of public funds have been brought to light by a recent blunder. It has been revealed that for nearly a year, the P-355 pillar of the Vasna-Motera metro corridor has been obstructing the BRTS lane in Akhbarnagar.
According to a senior AMC official, the BRTS corridor has been blocked by the metro pillar for almost a year now, causing one side of the BRTS corridor between Kitli Circle in Akhbarnagar and Vyaswadi to remain non-operational. Despite this, the metro services above are still functional. As a result, BRTS buses have had to take a detour, bypassing the Akhbanagar BRTS stand on one side.
The AMC official further explained that after a year of correspondence with GMRC, the two government agencies have recently come to a solution. They have decided to shave six inches off the P-355 pillar to allow buses to pass through.
The saga of mismanagement began in 2021, as stated by a senior AMC official, when civic utility lines suffered damage during the construction of the metro rail. These lines, including the Akhbarnagar Circle stormwater line, Akhbarnagar to Vyaswadi catchpits and stormwater line, drainage line between Vyaswadi and Palak Junction, and its extension towards RTO Circle, were subsequently repaired. Notably, a drainage line and stormwater line had to be diverted as they passed in front of MLA Shailesh Parmar's residence.
The senior AMC official also disclosed that a total of 15 stormwater lines and drainage lines, including those around Thaltej village and from Naranpura Crossing towards Sanghvi Crossing, underwent repair and reinstatement.
Moreover, significant damage was inflicted on additional areas due to the construction of the metro rail corridor. These areas include the 132 Foot Ring Road through Akhbarnagar, Subhash Bridge Circle, Sabarmati Powerhouse towards Motera trijunction, and Motera village to Tapovan Circle.