Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Work Progressing at a Rapid Pace

8 July 2024 Dholera

Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Work Progressing at a Rapid Pace

One of the most important projects in Gujarat, the Ahmedabad-Dholera expressway, which is a 109-kilometer stretch between the two cities, is quickly progressing, with a likelihood of it opening in 2024. This impressive connectivity between Ahmedabad, Dholera and Bhavnagar, which is being built at a cost of 3600 crores, will see people cover the distance in 45 minutes and 1.5 hours respectively. The project, which was kick-started in the last quarter of 2021 with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, did see a minor delay due to heavy rainfall in 2023. However, a significant push in clearing the backlog of work has now made it possible to see the fruition of the project by December 2024. NHAI has mentioned that the required permissions from the state and central government have helped them pick up the pace for the project.

In order for efficient and rapid development in the construction plans, the project is divided into four packages that will help speed up the scope of the project. While the first three packages are from SP Ring Road to Dhandhuka with divisions in between, the last package is from Dholera SIR to Bhavnagar. These packages are focused towards expanding the six-lane and eight-lane highways into eight and twelve-lane highways respectively.

The last package, between Dholera and Bhavnagar, rests on a brownfield alignment covering a stretch of 38 kilometers. With an ambitious twelve-lane highway in mind, the project has already reached the point of an on-going process of earthwork with the development of functional two lanes. The stretch towards Ahmedabad does not have the earthwork started yet. However, one can see progress on the front of underpass construction with structures being fully erected to connect them to the expressway.

The confluence of the brownfield and Greenfield happens at an interchange around the Administration Cum Business Center for Dholera (ABCD), wherein people from the center can connect to the expressway easily. The earthwork for the Greenfield post this building is already underway.

The project’s key points of connectivity – SP Ring Road, Sindhrej, Vejalaka, Dholera SIR and Adhelai are very telling of the regional and economical boom that is to follow with the completion of the same. The third package within this project, that sees the distance between Vejalaka to Valinda is a 22.5-kilometer stretch that will ensure the connection from the expressway to the Dholera airport. As a part of this package, the pillars are already constructed for the elevated path in the plan. Towards Ahmedabad, one can see the airport road connected to the expressway, with a vehicular underpass, ramps and earthwork already in motion.

Of all the divisions, the first package seems to be in place with the completion of earthwork and lane construction. The only work that is remaining is the plantation and marking of lanes. This part of the expressway would be going over a canal and the project has already seen the construction of pillars and floorwork for the overpass.

The initial point of the expressway from Ahmedabad has seen undergoing construction work at SP Ring Road for the interchange. While the levelling of the road is still to be done, the earthwork is halfway done. The National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) will soon open some sections of the highway and it is likely that by the end of the year, the expressway will be open to the public.

Apart from the infrastructural development, the Ahmedabad-Dholera project is also committed to making this project a sustainable process. There are extensive steps taken to ensure greenery around the expressway, in order to promote biodiversity and improve air quality. The people involved are also making sure that the wildlife and their habitat is not disturbed through the construction process. Additionally, sustainable practices in construction with the usage of recycled materials are also underway to encourage an environmentally safe construction practice on a large scale. One of the examples of this is that all the waste that is coming from the project is processed at Pirana dump yard, which is run by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, which is on the embankment of the expressway.