Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate two sections of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and lay the foundation stone for four National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects worth a combined ₹12,421 crore in Surat on 5 June 2025, coinciding with World Environment Day. The package is aimed at strengthening connectivity across South Gujarat, accelerating freight movement, and boosting economic activity in the state's tribal, industrial, and coastal belts.

Expressway sections to be opened

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 36-km Kim–Ena section (Package VI) and the 27.5-km Gandeva–Ena section (Package VII) of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway, built at a combined cost of ₹7,689 crore. The two packages form part of the broader Delhi-Mumbai Expressway corridor and include a network of major and minor bridges, rail-road bridges, flyovers, and vehicular underpasses.

According to the state government, 70 underpasses and two interchanges have been built across the two sections to ease local connectivity, along with seven rest areas for road-user safety and convenience. The eight-lane expressway is expected to enable faster movement of passenger and freight traffic and reduce logistics costs for local industries, in line with the objectives of the Bharatmala Project.

Foundation stones for NH-56 upgrades

Modi will also lay the foundation stone for four highway projects worth ₹4,732 crore. These include the four-laning of the Dhamasiya-Bitada/Movi section of National Highway 56 under Package IV, the four-laning of the Nasarpor-Malotha section of NH-56 under Package VI, a six-lane vehicular underpass near Reliance on the Surat-Hazira stretch of National Highway 53, and a vehicular underpass-cum-flyover at Kavas.

“By four-laning the Dhamasia-Bitada and Nasarpore-Malotha sections under the upgradation of NH-56, connectivity to the Statue of Unity and the tribal districts of Narmada, Tapi, Valsad, and Chhota Udepur will improve,” the government said in a statement. The 107.67-km corridor is expected to reduce travel time by up to 40 minutes and lift average travel speeds by roughly 75 per cent.

Why it matters for tribal and industrial belts

The highway is set to link farmers, industries, and trade routes while connecting pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing clusters, fishing and seafood clusters, tribal regions, and logistics nodes — including one airport, two railway stations, and two ports, according to the government.

Hazira Port connectivity push

Foundation stones will also be laid for two projects worth around ₹149 crore on the Hazira Port-Surat section of NH-53 — a new six-lane flyover and a vehicular underpass designed to keep heavy freight traffic moving without interruption. “The new 6-lane flyover and underpass will ensure smooth and faster movement of heavy freight traffic for Hazira Port and industrial areas,” the government said.

Officials said the projects are expected to support maritime trade and industrial activity while improving road safety and reducing congestion for local commuters in the heavily industrialised area surrounding Hazira Port.

What's next

With both expressway packages set to open and the NH-56 four-laning to begin construction, attention will turn to execution timelines and how quickly the promised logistics-cost savings filter through to South Gujarat's industries.