Gujarat is set to transform its road network through a ₹1,147 crore green construction programme covering 20 roads across 15 districts, with work commencing across corridors that span the length and breadth of the state. The initiative, announced on 23 May from Gandhinagar, prioritises climate-resilient engineering, large-scale reuse of existing road material, and advanced stabilisation techniques to extend pavement life while cutting costs and emissions.

The programme is being implemented under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel as part of Gujarat's infrastructure development agenda aligned with national development priorities.

Districts and Key Corridors Covered

The 20 projects span districts including Patan, Gir Somnath, Mahisagar, Bharuch, Morbi, Surendranagar, Surat, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Anand, Mehsana, Kutch, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, and Narmada.

Key corridors include the Lanwa-Manund-Sander-Balisana and Radhanpur-Mashali-Madhapura stretches in Patan, the Bhidiya Somnath Road in Gir Somnath, the Santrampur-Jalod Road in Mahisagar, the Dindoli-Karadwa-Iklera Road in Surat, and the Luni-Gundala-Patri-Tappar-Babiya Road in Kutch, among others.

Among the approved projects is the ₹50 crore reconstruction of the Jambusar-Tankali-Deola Road in Bharuch district. According to officials, the corridor is of industrial and logistical significance, connecting a pharmaceutical bulk drug park near Jambusar with ONGC facilities, salt farming areas near Deola, and coastal aquaculture zones. Officials described it as 'significant for industrial mobility and regional economic integration.'

Green Construction Methods at the Core

A defining feature of the programme is the reuse of existing road material through in-situ recycling. The process involves excavating existing road layers, stabilising them with lime and mechanical pulverisation, and then recompacting the reclaimed material with cement treatment and chemical stabilisation on-site.

After levelling and consolidation, a curing period of approximately seven days is observed before the application of a Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer (SAMI) — a fibre-based protective layer designed to reduce cracking and distribute vehicular load more effectively. Officials said this approach is intended to reduce dependency on fresh aggregates and lower transportation-related emissions.

Advanced Technologies Being Deployed

Depending on traffic intensity and ground conditions, the projects will deploy a range of engineering interventions. These include white topping over existing bituminous roads, glass grid reinforcement, geogrid systems, cold mix asphalt suited for all-weather and monsoon operations, cement stabilisation of sub-base layers, fly ash from thermal power plants, interlocking concrete paver blocks, segmented concrete panel construction, and perpetual pavement designs for long-term durability.

Waste plastic blended with asphalt is also among the approved materials. Officials stated that the selection of technology for each stretch would be 'site-specific, based on load requirements and long-term maintenance considerations.'

Scope of Civil Works

Physical works will include widening, resurfacing, four-laning on selected stretches, construction of RCC gutter lines, side shoulders, earthworks, installation of road furniture, rumble strips, and protective structures. Officials noted that reduced maintenance frequency is a key expected outcome, with improved pavement resilience contributing to a longer service life under increasing traffic loads and changing climatic conditions.

What This Means for Gujarat's Infrastructure

The programme represents a structural shift in how Gujarat procures road infrastructure — moving away from conventional aggregate-intensive construction toward resource-efficient, sustainability-oriented engineering. Officials said the combined use of these technologies is expected to reduce reliance on virgin raw materials and improve resource efficiency across the project lifecycle.

With work now commencing, the pace of execution across all 15 districts will be closely watched as a test of whether green road construction can be scaled credibly at the state level.