GIFT City Metro Derailed? Technical Snag Halts Ahmedabad Services Near Station
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Metro rail operations towards GIFT City faced severe disruptions on Friday morning after a pilot train suffered a technical failure and reportedly derailed near the GIFT City station during a routine pre-service track inspection.
Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) officials confirmed that the incident occurred before commercial operations began for the day, forcing authorities to truncate train services and short-terminate passenger trips at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) station.
Pilot Train Suffers Pre-Service Derailment
Every morning, GMRC operates an empty pilot train across the network to verify track safety, signaling systems, and overhead power supply before opening gates to commuters. On Friday morning, the inspection train completed its run towards GIFT City and was maneuvering near the station to switch tracks for the return journey.
During the crossover movement, a technical fault hit the front coach, leading to its derailment on the track switch segment. Initial local reports suggested the lead coach jumped the line, though GMRC officials maintained that the train was brought to an immediate halt on the track after power and technical anomalies were detected. Because the inspection train carried no passengers, no injuries were reported.
Office Commuters Stranded at PDEU Station
The mid-track disruption hit peak-hour movement along the crucial financial hub corridor. GMRC halted all metro train movements between PDEU station and GIFT City to clear the damaged rake and rectify the track section.
Thousands of finance sector professionals, tech employees, and daily commuters heading into Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) faced unexpected delays. Passengers traveling from Motera, Thaltej, and central Ahmedabad routes were forced to alight at PDEU station, where many scrambled to secure autorickshaws, taxis, and local buses to complete the remaining distance to their workplaces.
High-Level Technical Team Probes Track Fault
A senior engineering team alongside derailment restoration crews from GMRC rushed to the spot shortly after the alert was raised. Technical experts are inspecting the wheel-set alignment, track point switches, and engine electrical circuits to determine whether the derailment stemmed from a mechanical failure in the rake or an obstruction on the track crossover point.
Operations on the remaining operational segments of the Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2 network continued as scheduled. GMRC technical teams have initiated full restoration work, with officials stating that complete service resumption on the GIFT City branch will occur only after track safety re-certification.
