New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited bids for the construction of a six-lane, access-controlled greenfield highway in Gujarat under Package 1 of the Tharad–Ahmedabad Expressway.

The package has a design length of 105.8 km, accounting for nearly half of the proposed Tharad–Deesa–Mehsana–Ahmedabad National High-Speed Corridor, which received Union government approval in August 2024.

The tender for Package 1 covers a stretch from Km 0.000 to Km 105.8 and will be executed under the Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) toll model. Under this model, a private concessionaire will be responsible for constructing and operating the highway before transferring it back to the government at the end of the concession period. The estimated cost for this package is Rs 3,739.69 crore (including GST), underscoring the scale of investment being made in Gujarat’s expressway infrastructure.

Corridor to link national freight routes, cut travel time by 60%

The full Tharad–Ahmedabad corridor, spanning 214 km, is planned as a high-speed six-lane expressway with an overall capital cost of Rs 10,534 crore. Once completed, it will connect two major national corridors—the Amritsar–Jamnagar Economic Corridor and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway—enabling seamless freight movement from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to key ports in Maharashtra, including JNPT and Mumbai.

Beyond logistics and trade, the expressway is expected to improve tourism access to prominent destinations such as Mehrangarh Fort and Dilwara Temple in Rajasthan, as well as Gujarat’s heritage and pilgrimage sites, including Rani ki Vav and Ambaji Temple.

Officials said the corridor will reduce the distance between Tharad and Ahmedabad by around 20% and cut travel time by nearly 60%, significantly enhancing transport efficiency in the region.

Bidding schedule announced

According to the tender notice, the bid submission deadline is March 19, and bids will be opened on March 20, 2026. While the bidding process is fully online, key documents—including bid security, power of attorney, and joint bidding agreements—must be submitted in original physical form prior to the issuance of the Letter of Award.

The project is being viewed as a major milestone in Gujarat’s infrastructure expansion, expected to deliver faster mobility, stronger freight connectivity, and improved economic integration across the state. DeshGujarat