Gujarat govt plans own expressway

On the lines of Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway, constructed by Central government undertaking National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Gujarat government has chalked out plans to build its own expressway between Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar.

Speaking on the budgetary demands for road and building department, Anandiben Patel, minister of road and buildings today informed the state assembly that Gujarat government would construct its own expressway of 110 kms between Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar via Sarkhej-Pipali-Dholera. It would the first expressway to be built by the state government.

The state expressway was envisaged as Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) would also get air connectivity through international airport, she added.

In the wake of increasing industrial activities, the road and buildings department intends to provide road connectivity to ports and industrial areas in Gujarat.

"Works for 15 roads involving a cost of Rs 559 crore will be kicked-off this year and we aim to complete these road projects within two years," she informed.

Nearly Rs 200 crore would be spent for connecting Bharuch to Dahej and Rs 75 crore for Morbi bypass to Navlakhi road project. In order to provide road connectivity to various special economic zones (SEZ), SIR and industrial areas, the government has approved road projects to the tune of Rs 411 crore and construction of 9 roads with expenditure of Rs 167 has been completed to cater to future growth of road traffic.

Informing that Gujarat government had availed loan of Rs 1,800 crore from World Bank during the period from 2002 to 2007 for upgradation of 1856 kms roads and World Bank was satisfied with the state government's project implementation, road and building minister further added that Gujarat government had also prepared a new plan of Rs 2100 crore and sent it to World Bank for financial assistance.

Considering the importance of road connectivity in the growth story of Gujarat, the state government has increased the allocation to road and building department by 41.06 per cent or Rs 852 crore to Rs 2927 crore in the state budget for 2010-11.