Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, May 20 (IANS) Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) K. L. N. Rao on Wednesday undertook a Metro train journey from Ranip Metro Station in Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar in order to review security arrangements at Metro stations and encourage the use of public transport.

The exercise was linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal on fuel conservation and sustainable mobility.

During the inspection ride, Dr Rao closely examined entry and exit points at stations, CCTV surveillance systems, metal detector installations and the deployment of security personnel along the Metro network.

He also interacted with passengers and gathered feedback on operational efficiency and safety measures.

Rao said: “The objective of the journey was to support public awareness on fuel conservation in line with the Prime Minister’s appeal and to assess on-ground security arrangements across the Metro system.”

He urged citizens, including office-goers, students, traders and commuters, to make greater use of Metro and other public transport services instead of relying on private vehicles.

He further highlighted that when the Ahmedabad Metro service was launched, annual passenger numbers were around 2.5 crore, which have now risen to nearly 5 crore in the current year, reflecting a steady shift towards urban mass transit in the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar region.

The Prime Minister’s appeal for fuel conservation is part of a broader national push encouraging citizens to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption and adopt public transport, electric mobility and other energy-efficient practices.

In recent years, similar appeals have been associated with campaigns promoting Metro usage, cycling and reduced dependence on private vehicles, with several public representatives and government officials across states participating in Metro rides to reinforce the message.

During his journey, Dr Rao also stressed the importance of women’s safety in public transport systems, stating that “any inconvenience or security concern, particularly during late-night travel, should be promptly reported to the police for immediate action”.

The inspection comes at a time when Metro systems across major Indian cities are witnessing rising ridership alongside renewed emphasis on sustainability, fuel efficiency and public transport adoption as part of urban mobility planning.

–IANS

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