A partnership between the union and state governments will bring fast rail connectivity to the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR).
Moreover, a recent official announcement reveals the construction of the proposed roadway linking Ahmedabad and Dholera. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has committed to giving priority to building the road. Subsequently, the road will connect Ahmedabad and Dholera.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took part in the second meeting of the National Industrial Corridor Development Program’s apex monitoring authority. The meeting was conducted through a video conference in Delhi. Moreover, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman was present. Additionally, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal attended the meeting. The meeting was virtually attended by chief ministers and industry ministers of five other states.
Additionally, the Indian national government started the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. This program aims to create advanced industrial cities. Consequently, Patel provided updates to the Union ministers on the progress of Dholera SIR development. He did this through an official statement.
This includes constructing an airport. Additionally, it involves building a railway connecting the area to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. Also, it includes an expressway linking Ahmedabad and Dholera.
Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway: Speedy Progress, Expected Opening in 2024
The construction team is swiftly building the freeway that will link Ahmedabad to Dholera, a smart city. Once completed, the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway will allow travel between the two cities in just 40 to 45 minutes.
Breaking down into four packages, the 109-kilometer expressway project is incurring a cost of Rs. 3600 crores. Furthermore, Package 4 is designed as an 8-lane highway, with the potential to expand to 12 lanes. Simultaneously, Packages 1, 2, and 3 are undergoing conversion from 6-lane to 8-lane highways. Additionally, a 38-kilometer long section on a brownfield alignment is covered by Package 4.
Moreover, YouTube vloggers, showing keen interest, visited the expressway project site. They produced a detailed video about the ongoing progress of the project, highlighting key developments.
Currently, the road has eight lanes. Construction is underway to eventually have twelve lanes, meeting these standards. Presently, a two-lane road is in use, and earthwork is ongoing. Moreover, underpass constructions are complete in the direction of Ahmedabad. However, earthwork for the interchange hasn’t started yet.
Moving forward, the brownfield alignment concludes at a junction near the Dholera Administration Cum Business Center (ABCD). This interchange allows drivers from the ABCD building to access the freeway. Following this interchange, earthwork is starting, and the Greenfield alignment is being established.
Ahmedabad to Dholera Connectivity
Package 3, spanning 22.5 kilometers, will link the freeway with Dholera Airport. There is an elevated path being built, and some pillars are already joined.
Additionally, a ready vehicle underpass structure links the existing airport road with the expressway further down the road to Ahmedabad. Ramp construction is still ongoing close to the underpass structure. While earthwork continues across this package, the structures for the underpasses and interchanges are prepared.
As of now, Package 1 is almost complete. After finishing the earthwork and preparing the lanes, the project will complete the final tasks of planting. After that, the final step involves marking the lanes. A canal runs through this section of the expressway. The overpass’s flooring is still being installed. However, the construction of the structure, including pillar installation, is already complete.
Moreover, ongoing work is taking place on the interchange at the SP Ring Road in the city. This area serves as the entry point to Ahmedabad. Earthwork is being carried out on half of the circle at the interchange. The other half is almost complete and only needs road leveling.
Additionally, overall, the project is progressing rapidly. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to open some sections by April 2024. Furthermore, they plan to complete the full operation by December of the same year.
A noteworthy feature of this highway is the utilization of garbage processed at the Pirana Dump Yard, operated by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation, in the embankment layer of the road.
3 upcoming airports on the fast track to getting rail connectivity: Dholera, Noida, and Navi Mumbai
The PM GatiShakti plan is incorporating three new airports: Noida, Navi Mumbai, and Dholera. Moreover, the aviation and railway ministries are actively collaborating to speed up rail connections for these airports.
Additionally, there are plans to construct a railway station and tracks beneath Navi Mumbai Airport by December 2024. Moreover, a station and railway line near Dholera Airport are also part of the plan.
Furthermore, they are aiming to complete the Delhi-Jewar section of the Delhi-Varanasi high-speed rail project for Noida airport. On May 8, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, wrote a letter to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railways Minister. In the letter, he urged rail linkages for the three airports.
In his letter, Scindia emphasized the identification of Noida and Dholera airports as “high-impact projects”. Moreover, they also acknowledged the strategic location and potential of the Navi Mumbai airport.
Railway and Airway Connectivity
The AAI is currently building the Dholera airport in the Ahmedabad-Dholera industrial zone as part of the area’s development plan. Furthermore, a railroad line, running parallel to the freeway, will be constructed alongside the airport project. According to Scindia, the development of the airport is progressing well. They are expected to complete it by December 2025.
Moreover, railway authorities are confident about meeting the stated date for completing the track infrastructure construction near Dholera Airport. They have indicated that work on the project will commence shortly.
Acknowledging potential challenges, completing two out of the three projects by the 2024 deadline may be difficult. This is due to the extended periods required for planning, tendering, and construction. Additionally, it is important to consider the complexity of these processes, which could impact the overall timeline.
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