Bhavnagar: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari reviewed the progress of major National Highway projects in Gujarat during a high-level meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and senior state government officials in Gandhinagar on July 10.
The meeting focused on the status of ongoing highway projects, infrastructure development, land acquisition progress, and measures to speed up road construction across the state.
Gadkari reviewed the progress made since the previous meeting held with the Gujarat government in November 2025 and expressed satisfaction with the advancement of various highway projects.
Review of Major National Highway Projects in Gujarat
During the meeting, senior officials presented updates on several important highway and expressway projects across Gujarat.
Advisor to the Chief Minister S S Rathore presented details on key infrastructure projects, including:
- Six-laning of the Vadodara-Mumbai National Highway-48
- Samakhiali-Maliya section of the Morbi-Samakhiali road
- Rajkot-Gondal-Jetpur road project
- Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway
- Ahmedabad-Godhra-Indore road
- Jamnagar-Amritsar Expressway
- Palanpur-Samakhiali Corridor
- Ahmedabad-Shamlaji six-lane project
The review highlighted the progress of these projects and their role in improving connectivity, logistics, and economic growth in Gujarat.
Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway to Be Extended Up to Bhavnagar
A major announcement during the meeting was that work on extending the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway up to Bhavnagar will begin within the next three months.
The extension is expected to improve connectivity between important industrial and economic hubs of Gujarat and support regional development.
Gadkari also urged the Gujarat government to submit proposals quickly to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for securing funds under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for additional highway projects.
Gujarat Model of Land Acquisition Receives Praise
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari praised Gujarat’s approach of suspending non-agricultural permission proceedings for 60 days during the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation stage.
He said this practice helps speed up land acquisition and supports faster execution of road projects.
Gadkari highlighted that the Gujarat model could become an example for other states in accelerating infrastructure development and reducing delays in highway construction.
CM Bhupendra Patel Highlights Better Coordination for Faster Projects
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said effective coordination among different state government departments has helped accelerate land acquisition and other processes related to road infrastructure projects.
He also requested the Union Minister to expedite development work on the Palanpur-Samakhiali Corridor, which is important for improving road connectivity in the state.
Focus on Environment-Friendly Highway Development
During the meeting, Gadkari emphasized the importance of balancing infrastructure growth with environmental protection.
He stated that trees affected due to road expansion projects should be transplanted to suitable locations along the same road wherever possible.
The initiative aims to ensure highway development continues while protecting green cover and supporting environmentally sustainable infrastructure growth.
Senior Officials Attend Highway Review Meeting
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Gujarat government, NHAI, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, including:
- M K Das, Chief Secretary, Gujarat
- Dr Jayanti Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Department
- Dr Anju Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department
- Alok Deepankar, Technical Member, NHAI
- Manoj Kumar, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- Sanjeev Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister
- Dr Vinod Rao, Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment Department
- Dr Vikrant Pandey, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister
- P R Patelia, Secretary, Roads and Buildings Department
Officials from NHAI and various Gujarat government departments also participated in the discussions.
Gujarat’s Highway Expansion to Boost Connectivity and Growth
The review meeting reflects the government’s continued focus on strengthening road infrastructure in Gujarat through faster execution of expressways and National Highway projects.
With major corridors under development and new connectivity initiatives such as the Ahmedabad-Dholera-Bhavnagar extension, the state is expected to benefit from improved transportation networks, stronger logistics infrastructure, and increased economic activity.
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