Path clear for Gujarat heritage corridor, NHAI invites tenders

The deck is finally clear for the development of Gujarat’s heritage corridor along the famous Ahmedabad-Dandi stretch that the Mahatma once walked.

The deck is finally clear for the development of Gujarat’s heritage corridor along the famous Ahmedabad-Dandi stretch that the Mahatma once walked. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited tenders for consultancy services and preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 386-km long corridor along NH 228.

Consultant firms have also been shortlisted for the job that entails two-laning the highway with paved shoulders.

“This heritage corridor was announced by the Prime Minister some two years ago. To be split into three packages of 145 km, 132 km and 109 km from Ahmedabad to Dandi, the project will be a special one.

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Along the highway, high quality pathways are to be provided to make it convenient for people to march to Dandi. There will also be special signage in addition to specification-based road signs to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s route and the various associations with his march along the corridor,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.

The heritage corridor will run from Ahmedabad to Mahisagar river, from Mahi to Kim river and end at Dandi. The project falls under NHDP IV and its DPR is expected to be ready in 10 months. NHDP IV has a staggering 20,000 km project stretches marked for two-laning .

Other crucial project to get underway is the Amritsar-Wagah section, along NH 1 in Punjab. The 36.22-km long section, touching the Indo-Pak border, is set to be four-laned under NHDP III A. Independent consultancy services have been requested by the NHAI for this border road section to assess economic viability and traffic projections. The four-laning of the section, estimated to cost Rs 205.88 crore, will help enhance traffic capacity and safety for efficient transportation of goods and passenger traffic along the high-use stretch.

The four-laning of the dual carriageway highway will be done on BOT basis and the concessionaire will also operate and maintain the highway. NHAI has already prepared a land acquisition plan for the stretch. A construction period of 24 months is envisaged for it.

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The Zirakpur-Parwanoo section on NH1—including the Pinjore-Kalka-Parwanoo bypass to be constructed at a cost of Rs 295 crore—is also in the list of NHDP III A projects set for 4/6 laning. Consultancy for this one has also been invited by the NHAI.

Down south, a 79.7-km two-lane stretch along the Bangalore-Kolar-Mulbagal section on NH 4 in Karnataka, also under NHDP III A is set for 4/6 laning at an estimated cost of Rs 565 crore. Consultancy tenders have been invited for this project as well.

The 4/6-laning of 4,000 km of the National Highways on BOT basis under NHDP Phase-III A was approved in March 2005 at an estimated cost of Rs 22,000 crores (as per 2004 prices).