Banaskantha: Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development works worth over ₹1,000 crore, marking a major boost to the all-round development of Banaskantha district. Among the key projects is the Palanpur Greenfield Bypass, a long-pending demand aimed at easing severe traffic congestion in Palanpur city.

Palanpur Greenfield Bypass: ₹562-Crore Project to Ease Traffic Woes

Work on the Palanpur Greenfield Bypass will begin soon, as the Chief Minister has laid the foundation stone. The state government will construct the 24.5-kilometre bypass in three phases at a total cost of ₹562 crore.

The project gained momentum after the Chief Minister instructed officials to resolve Palanpur’s decades-old traffic problems. Following his directions, land acquisition and related planning processes were expedited. A total of 157.81 hectares of land across 14 villages has been acquired for the project.

Currently, traffic from Ahmedabad, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Kandla passes through Palanpur’s Aroma Circle, resulting in heavy congestion. The Aroma Circle handles nearly 30,000 vehicles daily, including over 6,000 heavy vehicles, causing severe traffic bottlenecks in the city.

The proposed bypass will be a four-lane road connecting Ahmedabad to Deesa (SH-41 to NH-27) and Deesa to Abu Road (NH-27 to NH-27). The highway will feature international-standard facilities, including a median with a green belt, a drainage system, and state-of-the-art road furniture. The project is expected to be completed in two years. Officials estimate that once commissioned, the bypass will significantly ease inner-city traffic and improve regional connectivity.

Other Major Development Works

Alongside the bypass, the Chief Minister also inaugurated more than seven completed projects and laid the foundation stone for over 15 new development works across the district.

Foundation Stone to Be Laid For:

• Campus development of various government offices in Deesa

• Development of Devpuri Bai Mandir Road from Viruna Bus Station and Etah–Gola Road

• Widening and strengthening of Patan–Deesa Road

• New District Education and Training Bhavan in Palanpur

• Ideal Residential School-Hostel for 250 girls

• New PHCs at Samau Mota, Rampura Mota, and Juna Deesa

• Palanpur Storm Water Project

• Railway overbridge near Khodla

• Four-lane bridge over the Umardashi River near Palanpur

Projects to Be Inaugurated:

• New four-lane bridge over the Umardashi River (part of a six-lane road)

• VUP at Gathaman Junction

• PHC at Madana (Gadh)

• Government Kumar Hostel for SC students at Vedancha, Palanpur

• 22 new classrooms at Kidotar and Sejalpura primary schools

• ‘Sashakt Nari Mela’ to Promote Women’s Empowerment

The Chief Minister will also inaugurate the ‘Saksham Nari Mela’ at Palanpur’s Ramlila Maidan. The event will showcase products by women’s self-help groups, Lakhpati Didis, women-led startups, women farmers, and artisans in handloom and handicrafts. The fair will also feature motivational sessions, networking opportunities, and market linkage activities aimed at promoting women’s empowerment. DeshGujarat