The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for a major upgrade of t he SP Ring Road, a 76-km stretch that encircles the city. With traffic increasing, the road will be widened to six lanes at an estimated cost of over Rs 2,000 crore.
In April, Auda appointed a consultant to oversee the project. Their report, soon to be submitted to the state’s urban development department, outlines plans for two new flyovers and two underpasses. The Tragad underpass will be widened to six lanes, and flyovers are planned at Aslali Junction and the Dholera Expressway junction. These infrastructural enhancements aim to streamline traffic flow and improve safety on SP Ring Road.
“One major benefit is that no new land will be acquired for the project, minimising disruption to nearby areas. The current 60-m wide road will be used for the expansion,” said an Auda official. The DPR also explores options for rebuilding or extending the Bhat and Komod river bridges, ensuring the road’s structural integrity.
The SP Ring Road’s current width varies, with the eastern section being 42-m wide with 18-m wide service roads on both sides, totalling approximately 78 meters in width.
The western section is 42-m wide with 9-m wide service roads on both sides.
The new design will feature three lanes on each side while keeping the service roads intact. After the DPR is finalised, Auda will consider three options for funding and implementation: through toll collection, a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, or a public-private partnership (PPP) by granting advertising rights.
This project has seen several revisions over the years. In Feb 2019, Auda had approved a Rs 200 crore expansion proposal.
However, Auda did not agree to extend the concession agreement by 3.5 years in exchange for this expenditure, leading the concessionaire company, ARRIL, to withdraw from the project in 2021.
Subsequently, Auda re-tendered the project. “This March, tenders were issued for appointing a consultant-cum-advisor, and the consultant was appointed in April, just before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election cod