Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway extension to Bhavnagar to start in 3 months: Gadkari
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has put a firm three-month clock on the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway's extension to Bhavnagar — one of several Gujarat highway projects reviewed in Gandhinagar on 10 July. Gujarat's land acquisition model, which pauses NA permission proceedings during DPR preparation, also won Gadkari's endorsement as a potential blueprint for the entire country.
Key Takeaways
Nitin Gadkari confirmed the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway extension to Bhavnagar will begin within three months .
A high-level review meeting was held in Gandhinagar on 10 July between Gadkari and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel .
Projects reviewed include the NH-48 six-laning (Vadodara-Mumbai), Jamnagar-Amritsar Expressway , and Palanpur-Samakhiali Corridor , among others.
Gujarat's model of holding NA permission proceedings for 60 days during DPR preparation was praised as a potential national template.
Gadkari directed that trees displaced by road expansion be transplanted along the same alignment to preserve green cover.
The Gujarat government was urged to send proposals for Central Road Infrastructure Fund assistance at the earliest.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday, 10 July that work to extend the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway up to Bhavnagar will commence within the next three months. The declaration came during a high-level review meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar, focused on accelerating National Highway projects across the state.
Key Developments from the Review Meeting
The meeting brought together senior officials from both the Union and Gujarat state governments to assess progress on a wide portfolio of highway and expressway projects. Chief Secretary M.K. Das and Chief Minister's Adviser S.S. Rathore presented updates on decisions taken at a similar review held in November last year, with Gadkari expressing satisfaction at the progress recorded since then.
The review covered several major infrastructure corridors, including the six-laning of National Highway-48 between Vadodara and Mumbai, the Samakhiali-Maliya section of the Morbi-Samakhiali road, the Rajkot-Gondal-Jetpur road, the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, the Ahmedabad-Godhra-Indore road, the Jamnagar-Amritsar Expressway, the Palanpur-Samakhiali Corridor, and the Ahmedabad-Shamlaji six-lane project.
What the Government Said
Reviewing projects executed under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Gadkari stated: 'The work to extend the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway up to Bhavnagar will commence within the next three months.' He also urged the Gujarat government to submit proposals at the earliest for securing financial assistance under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund.
Gadkari praised Gujarat's land acquisition model — which keeps non-agricultural (NA) permission proceedings on hold for 60 days while Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared — calling it a potential national template. 'The model could serve as an example for the rest of the country by helping simplify land acquisition during the planning stage of road projects,' he said.
Gujarat's Response and Pending Requests
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel highlighted that effective inter-departmental coordination within the state government had helped accelerate land acquisition and related processes. He also urged Gadkari to expedite work on the Palanpur-Samakhiali Corridor, flagging it as a priority.
Green Infrastructure Push
Gadkari emphasised environmentally sustainable road development, stating that trees displaced by road expansion should be transplanted along the same alignment wherever feasible. He framed this as consistent with the environmental approach advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signalling that green compliance will be a condition woven into project execution going forward.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Dr Jayanti Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary (General Administration) Dr Anju Sharma, NHAI Technical Member Alok Deepankar, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Chief Engineer Manoj Kumar, and other senior NHAI and Gujarat government officials. With timelines now publicly committed, the Bhavnagar extension and several other Gujarat highway projects are set to enter an active execution phase in the months ahead.
Point of View
But the more consequential outcome of the Gandhinagar meeting may be Gujarat's land acquisition model gaining Union endorsement. If the 60-day NA-hold framework is replicated nationally, it could meaningfully cut pre-construction timelines — one of the most persistent bottlenecks in Indian highway execution. That said, similar inter-ministerial review cycles have produced ambitious timelines before; the true test will be whether the Bhavnagar extension breaks ground on schedule or joins the queue of projects that slip quietly past their announced start dates.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway extension to Bhavnagar begin?
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on 10 July that work on the extension will commence within the next three months. The declaration was made during a highway review meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar.
What other highway projects were reviewed at the Gandhinagar meeting?
The review covered the six-laning of NH-48 between Vadodara and Mumbai, the Samakhiali-Maliya section, the Rajkot-Gondal-Jetpur road, the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, the Ahmedabad-Godhra-Indore road, the Jamnagar-Amritsar Expressway, the Palanpur-Samakhiali Corridor, and the Ahmedabad-Shamlaji six-lane project.
What is Gujarat's land acquisition model that Gadkari praised?
Gujarat keeps non-agricultural (NA) permission proceedings on hold for 60 days while Detailed Project Reports are being prepared, simplifying land acquisition at the planning stage. Gadkari said the model could serve as a national example for other states.
What is the Central Road Infrastructure Fund and why did Gadkari mention it?
The Central Road Infrastructure Fund is a Union government mechanism that provides financial assistance for National Highway projects. Gadkari urged the Gujarat government to submit proposals under this fund at the earliest to unlock additional resources for ongoing projects.
What environmental directive did Gadkari issue at the meeting?
Gadkari directed that trees displaced by road widening or expansion should be transplanted along the same road alignment wherever possible, framing it as part of an environmentally sustainable infrastructure approach in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's environmental stance.
