Public Transport Accessibility Analysis in Ahmedabad Metro

This paper presents a rigorous analysis of the realized accessibility of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail System (Phase I & II, covering over 40 km operational network) against its strategic goal of substantially increasing public transport mode share. Employing a framework that assesses both Objective Accessibility (time, frequency) and the operational efficiency of Multi-Modal Integration (MMI), the research identifies a critical accessibility-ridership paradox. Quantifiable data reveals a significant failure to meet core operational standards: current realized headways of approximately 15 minutes across the main corridors fall drastically short of the planned Detailed Project Report (DPR) targets (2.5–5 minutes), severely eroding the system’s time-based competitive advantage. This deficiency is compounded by systemic failures in MMI implementation. Key barriers include critical infrastructure deficits (lack of secure park-and-ride facilities) and structural planning errors, such as the remote location of the GIFT City terminal station, which requires costly correctional projects. Crucially, the unreliability of the last-mile network, particularly the slow and frequently diverted AMTS feeder services, introduces high uncertainty and friction for daily commuters. These constraints result in low daily ridership (averaging 1.18 lakh passengers) and establish a negative feedback loop: low realized accessibility justifies conservative, low-frequency service, preventing the system from attaining its strategic mobility and congestion relief goals. The paper concludes by urging the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) to prioritize immediate operational scaling (increasing peak frequency to a minimum of seven minutes) and to enforce seamless integration through the immediate implementation of a common ticket slab and a mandate for guaranteed feeder service reliability.