Surat: In the aftermath of the Gambhira bridge collapse over the Mahisagar River, a prompt decision has been taken to open the Kim–Ena stretch of the under-construction Delhi–Mumbai Expressway on Thursday. The move follows a representation by Union Minister and Navsari MP C.R. Patil to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, after reports of damage to the Tapi River bridge on National Highway 48 surfaced.

Responding to the request, Minister Gadkari directed authorities to open the Kim–Ena section of the expressway within 24 hours. The stretch is now scheduled to open by Thursday evening, providing immediate relief and a safer travel route for commuters. The expressway will serve as an alternative route, as viral images of a visible gap between two spans of the Tapi bridge near Kholvad in Kamrej highlighted serious safety concerns.

With this stretch becoming operational today, the Kim–Bharuch section of the expressway is also expected to open soon, which would effectively connect the Vadodara to Surat stretch of the expressway.

Notably, G R Infraprojects Ltd had announced in January that the construction of the eight-lane Vadodara–Kim Expressway, from KM 254.430 to KM 217.500 (Kim to Ena section) under the Vadodara–Mumbai Expressway Bharatmala Project, had been provisionally completed. The provisional certificate was issued by the independent engineer on January 10, 2025, declaring the project fit for commercial operation from November 30, 2024. DeshGujarat