Gujarat Metro to extend train services till midnight for IPL matches at Narendra Modi Stadium

Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Ltd on Thursday announced extension of metro train services in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar till past midnight on days when TATA IPL Men's T20 day-night cricket matches are scheduled at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium this season.

The matches are slated for April 4, April 17, April 20, April 26, April 30, May 3 and May 12, and GMRC said services would remain operational till 00:30 hrs on each of those nights.

Under regular operations, metro services in Ahmedabad run from 6.20 am to 10 pm whilst those on the Gandhinagar corridor from Motera Stadium to Mahatma Mandir operate between 7.30 am and 7.40 pm. On match days, however, services will be extended beyond 10 pm across multiple corridors.

According to the schedule released by GMRC, trains on the Motera Stadium–APMC stretch will run from 10 pm to half past midnight, whilst services between Old High Court Interchange and Vastral Gam, as well as between Old High Court Interchange and Thaltej Gam, will operate from 10 pm to 00:50 hrs. On the Gandhinagar corridor, trains from Motera Stadium to Mahatma Mandir will depart at 11.40 pm and 00:10 hrs.

GMRC clarified that during extended hours, passengers would be permitted to board only from Motera Stadium Metro Station and Sabarmati Metro Station, from where they may travel to any operational station on both corridors of the Ahmedabad network as well as to Mahatma Mandir on the Gandhinagar corridor.

Special paper tickets at ₹50

In a bid to ensure hassle-free travel for cricket-goers returning from the stadium, GMRC has introduced a special paper ticket priced at a flat rate of ₹50 per person. The ticket will be valid for travel from Motera Stadium and Sabarmati metro stations to any operational station on both Ahmedabad corridors, and from Motera Stadium to Mahatma Mandir during extended hours.

The corporation noted that regular ticketing options including Contactless Smart Tokens, Contactless Smart Cards (GMRC Travel Card and NCMC card), QR digital tickets and QR paper tickets would remain available at standard fares only up to 10 pm. Any ticket, whether QR-based or token-based, purchased in advance from kiosks, token vending machines, ticket counters or the mobile application, will not be valid after 22:00 hrs.

"After 22:00 hrs, only the special paper ticket will be allowed for entry from Motera Stadium and Sabarmati metro stations," the GMRC press note stated.

To help passengers avoid long queues at Motera on match nights, GMRC said the special paper tickets could be purchased in advance on the day of the match from 15 stations across the network Nirant Cross Road, Rabari Colony, Apparel Park, Kalupur, Old High Court, Thaltej, Motera, Sabarmati, Ranip, Vadaj, Jivraj Park, GNLU, Infocity, Sector-1 and Mahatma Mandir.

With the cricket season set to draw lakhs of spectators to the world's largest cricket stadium, the move is expected to significantly ease the post-match rush and reduce congestion on roads surrounding the venue.