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Study: Ahmedabad's Bus System Fails to Keep Pace
13 Apr
Summary
- Walking is the primary mode of transport for 42% of trips.
- Bus services have not expanded with the city's built-up area.
- Electric bus plan risks being costly without system upgrades.

A recent study highlights critical issues within Ahmedabad's public transport system, revealing that walking constitutes 42% of all trips for its estimated 8.5 million residents. Bus services, which accounted for 13% of motorized journeys in 2025, have seen a decline from 25% in 2012. This is despite a 60% expansion of the city's built-up area between 2011 and 2021, with bus route expansion lagging significantly.
Nearly 80% of bus routes in Ahmedabad suffer from headways exceeding 20 minutes, a factor pushing commuters towards two-wheelers, which now dominate 52% of motorized travel. The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) recovers only 30% of its operating costs, one of the lowest ratios nationally. Buses are frequently overcrowded, with a passenger-to-seat ratio of 2.4.