Highlighting mobility as the foundation of a Viksit Bharat, Banchhanidhi Pani (IAS), Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad, on Saturday, emphasized that Ahmedabad’s growth ambitions, ranging from hosting major sports events to aspiring for global platforms, are deeply linked to the strength of its public transport systems.
Addressing the gathering on Day 1 of AmdavadNXT – a three-day exhibition and convening at the Sabarmati Riverfront House, Pani said, “Seamless mobility will be critical for both residents and visitors. Ahmedabad is strengthening integration across systems including Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS), Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (BRTS), and the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation.” He further said, “The city is also working toward integrating transport systems across AUDA areas, ensuring that mobility extends seamlessly across the urban agglomeration.”
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Pani further highlighted the initiatives AMC is working on, including the procurement of 1,000 buses in the near term, scaling up to 3,000 buses by 2030, smart parking solutions and multimodal integration and advancing plans for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).
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The Commissioner further emphasized that every new bus procured will be interoperable across AMTS and BRTS corridors, strengthening operational flexibility and efficiency.
Speaking on the occasion, M. Thennarasan, Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, said, “Ahmedabad is committed to making public transport affordable for all, with a strong focus on last-mile connectivity. Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mechanisms are being leveraged to strengthen ticketing systems and ensure financial sustainability. We are also looking at deployment of 450 electric buses under the PM e-Bus initiative.”
Darshanaben Mukeshbhai Vaghela, Honorable State Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Govt. of Gujarat said, “I urge every citizen to embrace public transport. Ahmedabad has one of the strongest public transport systems but citizens are still replying on private transport. When we choose public transport, we choose a more sustainable and inclusive future for our city.”
Organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) under the SHIFT Transport coalition, in partnership with WRI India, TUL Foundation, UrbanVoices, aProCh, MYBYK, Momentum Shifts and other stakeholders, AmdavadNXT brought together 60+ schools, colleges, NGOs, community organizations, medical associations and resident organizations in the city. Attendees were taken through an immersive exhibition tracing Ahmedabad’s journey from AMTS to BRTS to Metro, and multi-stakeholder dialogues on the future of mobility.
Other dignitaries who addressed the gathering included Pratibhaben Rakeshkumar Jain, Honorable Mayor, AMC, Neeraj Kumar Badgujar, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police – Sector-1, Amitbhai P Shah, Honorable MLA, Ellisbridge Vidhansabha, Amdavad and Gaurang Prajapati, Honorable Councillor, AMC.
Highlighting the importance of data-driven and integrated systems, Madhav Pai, CEO, WRI India, said, “The future of Ahmedabad’s growth depends on how effectively we integrate buses, metro, walking, cycling, and shared mobility into one seamless network. AmdavadNXT is an opportunity to use evidence, innovation, and citizen engagement to build transport systems that are efficient, climate-aligned, and centred on people’s needs.”
Emphasising collaboration across sectors, Dr Abhijit Lokre, TUL Foundation, added, “Meaningful mobility transformation requires partnerships across government, academia, civil society, and the private sector. By bringing diverse voices together, AmdavadNXT creates a shared space to align vision, policy and implementation for a more sustainable and inclusive Ahmedabad.”
Speaking about the connection between mobility and well-being, Dr Bhairavi Joshi, Advisor – Fit India Mission, noted, “Transport is not just about movement; it shapes how healthy and active our cities are. Prioritising walking, cycling, and public transport can transform public health outcomes, especially for young people. Platforms like AmdavadNXT remind us that mobility planning must put citizens, particularly children and youth, at the heart of decision-making.”
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