Completion of Six-Lane Expansion on Ahmedabad-Rajkot NH Reaches 98%
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Synopsis
The Gujarat government is investing ₹3,350 crore to expand the Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway into a six-lane road, with 98% of the work completed. This project aims to reduce travel time by approximately 30 to 45 minutes and enhance road safety significantly.
Key Takeaways
- Investment of ₹3,350 crore for expansion.
- 98% of the project work is already completed.
- Travel time reduced to 2 hours and 32 minutes.
- Fuel consumption reduced by 10-15%.
- Significant improvement in road safety with a 41% drop in accidents.
Gandhinagar, March 17 (NationPress) During a recent Assembly session, Minister of State for Cooperation, Jagdish Vishwakarma, revealed that the Gujarat government is set to invest ₹3,350 crore in the expansion of the Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway to a six-lane format.
This ambitious project spans a total distance of 201.33 kms, with the initial phase covering 197 kms.
Remarkably, 193 kms, or 98 percent of the project, has already been completed.
Once the six-lane upgrade is finalized, travel time between Ahmedabad and Rajkot will be cut down to two hours and 32 minutes, leading to a time savings of around 30 to 45 minutes.
This enhancement is also projected to reduce vehicle fuel consumption by 10 to 15 percent.
The initiative includes the building of 38 flyover-underpass structures, with 34 completed and work progressing on the remaining four.
Moreover, the Minister pointed out that the expansion has markedly improved road safety. The number of accidents at identified black spots has fallen by about 41 percent over the last three years compared to 2019.
From an initial count of 34 black spots, 31 have been mitigated, with plans for the remaining three to be resolved shortly.
Gujarat boasts a significant road network that includes over 102 National Highways and 50 state highways, covering a total of approximately 63,000 kms.
Notable highways include the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, Surat-Hazira Highway, and Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway.
Given its strategic position as a center for industry and trade, the state requires effective road connectivity. The government has made substantial investments in infrastructure, including the recent ₹3,350 crore allocation for the Ahmedabad-Rajkot six-lane expansion.
Over the next five years, the state government has earmarked ₹2 lakh crore for infrastructure advancements.
Key projects encompass the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), the Bharatmala Project, and the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway.
Additionally, Gujarat is working on a 1,600-km coastal highway to enhance connectivity between ports and industrial areas.
The Golden Quadrilateral, which traverses Gujarat, plays an essential role in linking major cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara.
Furthermore, the state is investing in advanced smart highway systems, which include features like Intelligent traffic management, automated toll collection, and real-time monitoring to bolster efficiency and safety.
