Gandhinagar, June 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Surat, Gujarat, on June 5, coinciding with World Environment Day. During this visit, he will unveil national highway projects worth ₹12,421 crores for the southern Gujarat region.
PM Modi will inaugurate two packages of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway and lay the foundation for four other significant projects. These highway initiatives aim to enhance connectivity across southern Gujarat and stimulate local economic growth.
The inauguration will include the 36-kilometer Kim-Aena section (Package 6) and the 27.50-kilometer Gandheva to Aena section (Package 7) of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. Constructed at a cost of ₹7,689 crores, these packages feature an extensive network of major bridges, minor bridges, rail-road bridges, flyovers, and vehicle underpasses (VUPs). To facilitate local residents, a total of 70 underpasses and 2 interchanges have been constructed within these packages. The introduction of an 8-lane road will significantly improve connectivity and enable faster transportation. Additionally, 7 well-equipped rest areas will be established for driver safety and convenience.
The launch of these two packages on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will expedite freight transport and help reduce logistics costs for local industries, aligning with the objectives of the Bharatmala project.
Furthermore, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will also lay the foundation for four additional projects worth ₹4,732 crores. These include the four-laning of NH-56 (Package 4) from Dhamasia to Bitada/Movi, the four-laning of NH-56 (Package 6) from Nasarpur to Malotha, and the construction of a six-lane vehicle underpass (VUP) on the Surat Hazira National Highway (NH-53) along with a VUP and flyover at Kavas.
The upgrade of NH-56 will enhance connectivity to the Statue of Unity and the tribal districts of Narmada, Tapi, Valsad, and Chhota Udaipur. These four-lane roads will contribute to local development by connecting farmers, industries, and trade routes.
The construction of this 107.67-kilometer four-lane road will reduce travel time by up to 40 minutes and increase average speeds by 75%. This road will link pharmaceutical and medical clusters, seafood fishing clusters, tribal districts, and logistics nodes, including an airport, two railway stations, and two ports.
Additionally, two significant projects worth approximately ₹149 crores will be initiated on the Hazira Port-Surat section of National Highway 53. The construction of new six-lane flyovers and underpasses will ensure smooth and rapid movement of heavy vehicles to and from the Hazira Port and industrial areas. This will facilitate maritime trade and industrial development while providing local residents in Surat with safer and congestion-free travel. The new flyover and underpass will alleviate traffic in the heavily industrialized area near Hazira Port, ensuring efficient transportation.
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