Tharad-Ahmedabad Expressway: In a major update for the commuters, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited bids for construction of the first stretch of the proposed Tharad–Ahmedabad Expressway. The authority stated that the six-lane expressway is designed to strengthen freight movement and will boost the regional connectivity significantly. It further stated that the project will provide relief to thousands of commuters by cutting the travel time and reducing traffic congestion.
While providing details, the authority stated that the first stretch covers a design length of 105.8 km, covering a major portion of the project. It further stated that the estimated cost of the 214-kilometer-long project is Rs 10,534 crore, adding that it will pass through several cities. The authority further stated that the tendered stretch will be executed under the Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) toll model.
The estimated cost for the construction of the first stretch of the project is Rs 3,739 crore and will boost the financial activities in the state. The authority further stated that the expressway will connect the Amritsar–Jamnagar Economic Corridor with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway. Its design will create a faster freight route among several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
The authority asserted that the project will cut the distance between Tharad and Ahmedabad by around 20 per cent and will also improve the travel experience by reducing the travel time by 60 per cent. Apart from boosting the finance, the project is also likely to improve access to several tourism destinations, including Rajasthan’s Mehrangarh Fort and Dilwara Temples and Gujarat's Rani ki Vav and the Ambaji Temple.
The officials asserted that the bids for the project must be submitted by March 19, adding that while the bidding process will be conducted online, physical documents will be required for the verification process.