Plan Includes E-Buses for Internal Travel; 5,000 Employees to Benefit
GIFT City is set to get improved public transport connectivity, with the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) submitting a final proposal to extend its bus services directly to the business district.
Spread across 886 acres—including a 261-acre Special Economic Zone—GIFT City employs over 5,000 people. Despite this, it still lacks reliable transport links, forcing most commuters to depend on private vehicles.
Officials said the plan aims to strengthen mobility within GIFT City and provide smoother last-mile connectivity for employees, visitors, professionals, and students.
Three-Part Connectivity Plan
GSRTC has outlined a three-tier system:
- Extend buses from major cities directly to GIFT City, instead of terminating at the Gandhinagar bus depot.
- Introduce internal bus services within the campus to ease movement for employees and nearly 5,000 daily visitors.
- Deploy e-buses for intra-campus travel and for connecting the metro station to key points inside GIFT City.
A designated bus parking zone has already been earmarked inside the campus.
An official noted that inadequate public transport has led to heavy reliance on private vehicles, resulting in congestion and haphazard parking.
Proposal Under Review
GSRTC Managing Director M. Nagarajan confirmed ongoing discussions. “Since the area doesn’t fall under any civic body that typically provides city bus services, GSRTC and GIFT authorities are evaluating options to improve public transport,” he said.
GIFT City MD and Group CEO Sanjay Kaul added: “We are reviewing the proposal for the benefit of commuters.”
UK Universities to Set Up Campuses in GIFT City
Two more UK-based institutions—University of Sussex and Coventry University—are set to open branch campuses in GIFT City by early 2026. According to GIFT City MD Sanjay Kaul, discussions are in advanced stages. These campuses will offer programmes in fintech, finance, and IT as per IFSCA guidelines.
Kaul also revealed that authorities are in talks with two US universities and one Canadian university from the QS Top 500 list to establish offshore campuses in the region.