The construction of the 109-kilometer expressway linking Ahmedabad with the smart city of Dholera is advancing swiftly, with approximately 80% of the work complete. Expected to become operational by early 2025, the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, built at a cost of Rs. 4,373 crores, will reduce travel time between the two cities to just 40 to 45 minutes.
The expressway will connect the Sardar Patel Ring Road in Ahmedabad with India’s first Greenfield Smart City. Many YouTube vloggers have visited the site to track its progress. Recently, RS Live shared updates on the construction phases.
Beginning from Ahmedabad, construction work on the diamond interchange at the SP Ring Road is nearly complete, with one side already open for traffic, while the other side remains closed.
A 5-kilometer stretch from the SP Ring Road interchange on this expressway is ready. Moving toward Dholera, the road alignment work is complete, and the first layer of blacktopping is done. Currently, it is an 8-lane highway (4 lanes on each side) with future expansion potential to 12 lanes. Roadside planting has also begun, adding visible greenery.
After the initial 5 kilometers, work is underway on a major railway overbridge made from steel. Construction of the ramps on both sides of the bridge is complete, and the pillars for the steel bridge are ready. Work to launch the steel and concrete girders is ongoing. This elevated section will span approximately 700 meters.
The next major junction on the expressway is the Pipli junction, which will connect to Dholera International Airport, followed by another interchange that links to Dholera Smart City.
Approaching Pipli Junction, work is nearly complete, with signage installed, including speed limits indicating a maximum of 120 km/h for cars and 80 km/h for commercial vehicles. Speed detection cameras have also been installed along the route.
The Pipli Interchange is one of the largest on this route, as it provides access to Dholera International Airport. Another 10-kilometer road from this interchange to the airport is under construction.
Following this is the Ambli interchange, the first interchange of Dholera SIR from the Ahmedabad side. Its construction is complete, with streetlights and crash barriers installed. Painting work has begun, and lane marking is the final step. Additional planting will start soon.
This 109-kilometer expressway ends at Adhelai Interchange for travelers from Ahmedabad and serves as the starting point for those coming from Bhavnagar. This interchange is ready, with vehicles already using the road. Streetlights are in place, and landscaping is ongoing. This interchange also connects the expressway to the old highway currently used to travel from Ahmedabad to Dholera and further to Bhavnagar, only 25 kilometers away.
After reviewing the entire highway, the vlogger concluded that around 80% of the work is complete, with the remaining 20% underway. The expressway is expected to open in 2025.
It is noteworthy that the Union government in August announced that the project is slated for completion in FY 2024-25, and it is likely to open in the early quarter of next year.