The Narendra Modi government in Gujarat is planning to build its first expressway, between Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar, at a cost of Rs2,200 crore. This will provide superfast road connectivity to the special investment regions (SIR) in the state.

The expressway that passes through Sarkhej-Pipali-Dholera will enable one to commute the 110 km distance between the two cities in just one and a half hour, roads and buildings minister Anandiben Patel informed the state assembly on Friday.

Speaking on the budgetary demands for roads and buildings department, the minister said the investment region, coming up enroute Dholera, an ancient port city in Gulf of Khambhat, would also get air connectivity through international airport.

In the wake of increasing industrial activities, the roads and buildings department intends to provide road connectivity to various special economic zones (SEZs), SIRs and industrial areas.

The work for 15 roads at a cost of Rs559 crore will begin soon, she informed the assembly, adding that nearly Rs2,000 crore would be spent on connecting Bharuch to Dahej and Rs75 crore for Morbi bypass to Navlakhi road project.

The government has approved road projects worth Rs411 crore and has completed construction of nine roads with expenditure of Rs167 crore in order to meet future growth needs of road traffic.

The state government had earlier, availed of a World Bank loan of Rs1,800 crore for upgradation of 1,856 km of roads and has completed the project as per World Bank stipulations.

The state government had also prepared a new plan of Rs2,100 crore and sent it to World Bank for financial assistance.

Considering the importance of road connectivity in the state, the government has increased allocation to roads and buildings department by 41.06 per cent or Rs852 crore to Rs2,927 crore in the state budget for 2010-11.

“In 2010-11, six-laning work will be taken up on 185 km at a cost of Rs1,584 crore and four laning of 646 km at a cost of Rs5,410 crore to provide improved road connectivity to the ports ringing the coastal areas of Okha, Navlakhi, Dahej, Jhakhau, Mundra, Sutrapada, Naliya, Jhakhau, Rajula and Jaffrabad,” the minister added.