The Gujarat government on Wednesday launched two expansive expressway projects with a total funding of Rs 96,240 crore. Minister of State Jagdish Vishwakarma shared details about these large-scale infrastructure projects during the Assembly session while presenting budget demands for the Roads and Housing Department and the Cooperation Department.
For the upcoming financial year, Rs 520 crore will be allocated from the Rs 50,000 crore Developed Gujarat Fund, according to Vishwakarma. Land acquisition for the expressway projects will begin after the completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which is expected to take a year. The exact extent of private land required for construction will be determined once the DPR is finalized.
As of 2024, Gujarat has a total road network of 1.11 lakh kilometers, comprising 6,922 kilometers of national highways, 20,585 kilometers of state highways, and 84,000 kilometers of district and rural roads. The Gujarat government remains committed to road infrastructure development, allocating Rs 10,045 crore in the 2024-25 Budget for the construction, maintenance, and expansion of roadways.
Key expressway projects include the Namo Shakti Expressway (430 km, Rs 39,120 crore) and the Somnath-Dwarka Expressway (680 km, Rs 57,120 crore). The planned Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway is part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, aimed at boosting trade and commercial activities.
Through initiatives such as Bharatmala Pariyojana and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), India has successfully expanded its rural road network. Gujarat is also adopting advanced road systems, integrating intelligent traffic control networks and enhanced safety systems. The government prioritizes road development to improve connectivity between industrial zones and ports, as well as agricultural areas, facilitating better transportation across the region.
