The Union Cabinet has approved infrastructure projects worth ₹4,703 crore, including a ₹2,169 crore extension of the Ahmedabad Metro to the international airport. Additionally, the government cleared over ₹2,533 crore to construct major central government office and residential towers in Andhra Pradesh's capital city, Amaravati.
NEW DELHI — In a major push for national urban infrastructure development, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, approved three landmark transit and housing projects with a combined economic layout of ₹4,703 crore. The federal approvals are split across two high-priority geographic corridors, clearing Phase 2(A) of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project in Gujarat alongside massive office and residential building complexes for central government employees in Andhra Pradesh’s capital, Amaravati.
The statutory announcements mark a decisive shift from strategic planning to physical execution. The multi-city capital allocations are designed to significantly improve mass transit links ahead of upcoming international multi-sport events in Gujarat while providing the necessary real estate footprint to accelerate the relocation of central ministries to Amaravati.
Direct Airport Link to Prepare Ahmedabad for Global Games
Administered by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the freshly sanctioned Phase 2(A) of the Ahmedabad Metro Project introduces a critical 6.032-kilometer corridor designed to seamlessly link Koteshwar Road directly to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. According to official project briefs presented during the media briefing by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the expansion will be constructed over a strict four-year horizon at an estimated completion cost of ₹2,169.04 crore, inclusive of Interest During Construction (IDC).
The new layout features five strategic transit stations, including four elevated structures—Ashram Road, Koteshwar Prachin Mandir, Sabarmati River, and Sardar Nagar—terminating at a specialized underground station built inside the international airport complex.
The infrastructure push is specifically timed to handle massive passenger flows for the upcoming World Police Games 2029 and the Commonwealth Games 2030, both hosted by Ahmedabad. Upon operationalization, the joint Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar active urban rail grid will expand to a contiguous length of 77.63 kilometers, establishing direct multi-modal integration between regional bus terminals, standard railway lines, and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor.
Building the Institutional Foundation of Amaravati
The remaining half of the ₹4,703 crore cabinet sanction focuses on building the foundational core of Andhra Pradesh’s capital city. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a twin-pronged structural development package targeting the consolidation of central government ministries and public sector undertakings (PSUs) currently operating scattered offices out of Vijayawada and Guntur.
Central Government General Pool Office Accommodation (CGGPOA): Sanctioned at a fixed cost of ₹1,299.08 crore, this administrative hub will occupy a 5.53-acre campus. It will feature a gross built-up area of 23.25 lakh square feet, engineered to accommodate up to 8,000 central officials and staff members.
General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA): To address the acute shortage of quality rental housing in the capital zone, the cabinet approved a ₹1,234.91 crore residential complex. Spread over a 17-acre parcel, the development will deliver 11 high-rise residential towers containing 1,504 separate housing units with a built-up area of 31.30 lakh square feet.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has been designated as the primary executing agency for both projects. Pre-bid administrative clearances have formally commenced, with formal tender documents expected to hit public markets shortly.
Official Sources Section
The financial outlays, project scopes, engineering dimensions, and employment metrics outlined in this report correspond directly to official press releases issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Detailed breakdowns have been cross-verified with cabinet briefing statements archived by Livemint and infrastructure project boards tracked by ANI News.
Quote Section
"According to officials and cabinet spokespersons, these approvals are structural requirements to foster local economic expansion," stated Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the post-cabinet press interaction. "The Ahmedabad extension anchors cleaner urban mobility ahead of the 2030 international games, while the Amaravati projects deliver the physical institutional core required to accelerate long-term office relocation and public service capability."
Why It Matters
For daily commuters, business travelers, and real estate markets, the practical implications of this multi-crore federal package are extensive. Connecting Ahmedabad's urban center to the airport via mass transit will drastically reduce road congestion, while cutting down carbon emissions compared to traditional fossil-fuel-based vehicles. Meanwhile, the infusion of over ₹2,533 crore into Amaravati's administrative infrastructure will spur immediate commercial real estate demand, generate significant localized construction employment, and firmly establish the city's status as a functional state capital.
Key Facts at a Glance
Total Outlay: The Union Cabinet cleared three major infrastructure packages with a total financial footprint of ₹4,703 crore.
Airport Extension: A 6.032 km metro link connecting Koteshwar Road to the Ahmedabad International Airport was approved for ₹2,169.04 crore.
Amaravati Institutional Core: Over ₹2,533 crore was allocated to construct centralized office spaces and 1,504 housing units for central employees.
Employment Generation: The metro construction phase is estimated to generate peak employment for up to 2,500 personnel over four years.
Historical Milestone: The cabinet approvals coincided with a resolution celebrating PM Narendra Modi reaching 4,399 continuous days in office, becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister.
FAQ Section
Which metro stations are included in the new Ahmedabad Phase 2(A) expansion?
The 6-kilometer extension includes five approved stations: Ashram Road, Koteshwar Prachin Mandir, Sabarmati River, and Sardar Nagar as elevated stations, terminating at an underground station inside the International Airport.
What is being constructed in Amaravati under this cabinet approval?
The approval covers two projects: a Central Government Office complex built on 5.53 acres to house 8,000 workers, and an extensive residential community spanning 17 acres that will deliver 1,504 apartments for government staff.
How does the Ahmedabad Metro expansion relate to global sporting events?
The extension provides faster transit links connecting the airport, Gandhinagar, and GIFT City to the upcoming sports enclaves being built for the World Police Games 2029 and the Commonwealth Games 2030.
Source: Cabinet briefing transcripts from the Press Information Bureau, economic project outlines managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and capital market updates from Livemint.
