A'bad-Vadodara expressway inauguration on August 16

The Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway, part of the Prime Minister's Golden Quadrilateral project, is set to be inaugurated on August 16.

The expressway has been constructed at a total cost of Rs 550 crore, of which Rs 350 crore has been spent on the Ahmedabad-Nadiad stretch (Phase I), while Rs 200 crore has been spent on the just completed Nadiad-Vadodara stretch (Phase II).

Once inaugurated, people will be able to travel between Ahmedabad and Vadodara in about 75 minutes.

The first phase of the project (Ahmedabad-Nadiad stretch) began in August 2000, while the second phase (Nadiad-Vadodara) began in June 2001. However, though the Nadiad-Vadodara stretch has been complete, toll tax is not being levied on that part of the expressway.

"The toll tax will be levied after it is printed in the official gazette after inauguration," said Rajesh Bhatt, project director, Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway.

While the toll tax for the Ahmedabad-Nadiad section is Rs 26 for cars, the proposed toll tax for the entire expressway between Ahmedabad and Vadodara is likely to be Rs 58.

Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sought a detailed project report on the additional costs that it will incurred on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway, after new bridges, underpasses and service roads are constructed.

"We have sought a detailed report on the additional costs that will be incurred and will then proceed," Bhatt stated.

NHAI, which is implementing the Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway project, will incur an additional cost of around Rs 50 lakh per kilometre for the Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway. This amount will be spent in creating more service roads, bridges and underpasses for persons residing around the expressway.

Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways K H Muniappa, who was in Ahmedabad last month to review the progress of the project, said the NDA government grossly ignored the grievances of farmers and villagers residing around the highways.

He added that the NHAI will require to acquire land and is in touch with the district collectors of the districts concerned and elected representatives from these areas.

He had stated that it was not proper for villagers to walk two kilometres to find a bridge or underpass to cross the expressway, even as many farmers had farms on either side of the expressway.