Gadkari Announces Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway Extension to Bhavnagar Within Three Months

The Announcement

During a high-level review meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar focusing on the implementation of key highway and expressway projects, land acquisition, funding and measures to accelerate infrastructure development, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that work to extend the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway up to Bhavnagar will commence within the next three months.

Gadkari reviewed the progress made since a similar meeting with the Gujarat government in November last year.

What Exists Now

The Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 March 2026. This 109 km long, four-lane wide (expandable to eight) access-controlled expressway connects Sardar Patel Ring Road near Sarkhej in Ahmedabad with Adhelai village in Bhavnagar district via Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR). The expressway is part of the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

The expressway's total construction cost (excluding the cost of land) was about ₹3,196 crores.

What the Extension Will Change

The proposed extension is expected to improve connectivity between Ahmedabad, Dholera and Bhavnagar, while strengthening transport links to key industrial and economic hubs in Gujarat. Expanding the corridor to Bhavnagar city itself will reduce travel distance and strengthen the port-to-Dholera industrial corridor.

Gujarat's Land Acquisition Model Gains National Approval

Gadkari praised Gujarat's approach to facilitating land acquisition for highway projects by keeping proceedings for non-agricultural (NA) permission on hold for 60 days while Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared, saying the model could serve as an example for the rest of the country by helping simplify land acquisition during the planning stage of road projects.

Gadkari also emphasised environmentally sustainable infrastructure development, noting that trees affected by road expansion should be transplanted elsewhere along the same road alignment wherever possible to ensure road widening while preserving green cover.

Next Steps: Funding and Proposals

Gadkari urged the Gujarat government to send proposals at the earliest for securing financial assistance for National Highway projects under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund. The extension project will require formal project documentation and funding approval before construction tenders are issued.

Senior officials from the Union and State governments, including NHAI Technical Member Alok Deepankar, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Chief Engineer Manoj Kumar, and state department heads, attended the review.