Ahmedabad: On Thursday, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) approved a draft budget of Rs 991 crore for the 2026-27 financial year. For this period, AMTS estimates a total income of Rs 358 crore, with a projected deficit of Rs 600 crore. The outlay is divided into a revenue budget of Rs 958 crore and a capital budget of Rs 33 crore. A major highlight is the plan to electrify the entire fleet to AC buses before the 2030 Commonwealth Games.AMTS plans to operate a total of 1,600 buses, with a focus on increasing frequency to surrounding villages and GIDC areas. The goal is to have all buses operational as AC units by 2030. From the order for 225 electric buses placed, 25 have been delivered, officials said.A new depot has been planned near Sarkhej Chowkdi, while solar-powered charging facilities will come up at Jamalpur, Vasna, Vadaj, and Memnagar depots. The plan includes building Gujarat’s first multi-level bus depot, a common charging policy, and a roadmap for functional integration. The budget outlines a roadmap for the operational and infrastructural integration of AMTS and BRTS. Additionally, multi-modal integration bus ports will be developed on the outer side of SP Ring Road, according to officialsOther initiatives include launching bus services to heritage and tourism sites, operating e-buses on both sides of the Sabarmati Riverfront, installing safety audit and fire detection systems in all EV buses, providing specialised training for drivers and conductors, and operating mobile training vehicles via a PPP model.
