New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday approved a project for the construction of four-lane sections of Dhamasiya–Bitada/Movi (47.46 km) and Nasarpore–Malotha (60.21 km) in Gujarat under the HAM mode, with a total project length of 107.67 km and a total capital cost of ₹4,583.64 crore.

The project is part of NH-56, which starts at Nimbahera in the state of Rajasthan and traverses through Dahod district in Gujarat and Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh, before re-entering Gujarat near Chhota Udepur district and terminating at its junction with NH-48 near Vapi.

The approved project passes through the aspirational district of Narmada and will improve connectivity to tribal areas in Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Tapi, and Bharuch, thereby supporting the region’s economic growth and development. It will also enhance connectivity to the Statue of Unity, a prominent national tourist destination located in Kevadia village, about 11 km from NH-56.

The project is designed for a speed of 100 km/h, enabling an average speed of 70 km/h and reducing travel time by 40%—from 2.5 hours to 1.5 hours.

The 107.67 km project is expected to generate approximately 19.38 lakh man-days of direct employment and 22.82 lakh man-days of indirect employment. It will also create additional job opportunities due to increased economic activity in the vicinity of the proposed corridor.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has undertaken the upgradation of the congested Jambugam (Bodeli)–Malotha section of NH-56 (175 km) to a four-lane configuration under four packages. The stretches from Jambugam (Bodeli) to Dhamasiya and from Movi to Nasarpore have already been awarded, and construction work commenced in November 2025 with a target completion period of two years. Upon completion of the current project packages, continuous four-lane connectivity from Bodeli to Malotha will be established, easing congestion on NH-56 and further enhancing connectivity to NH-53, NH-48, and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (NE-4). DeshGujarat