Rajkot-Atkot Highway Six-Laning Hits Hurdle Over Rs 2,500 Crore Cost Estimate

Rajkot: More than 30,000 vehicles use the Rajkot-Atkot highway every day, but the proposed six-laning of the route has hit a fresh hurdle after the state government raised concerns over the estimated cost of Rs 2,500 crore and directed the authorities to restart the tender and Detailed Project Report (DPR) process.

The proposed project covers the 45-km stretch from R.K. University Circle in Rajkot to Atkot and includes two bypasses at Sardhar and Atkot. The bypasses are expected to ease traffic for motorists travelling towards Bhavnagar and Amreli and reduce congestion in the villages along the existing route.

According to a Rajkot District Road and Buildings Department official, an estimate of around Rs 2,500 crore was prepared after the tender-related process for the six-laning project. The DPR was subsequently submitted to the state government for approval.

However, the government has not approved the estimated cost and has instead ordered the department to undertake the tender and DPR process afresh. This means the proposed six-laning project is likely to take additional time before work can begin.

The existing Rajkot-Atkot highway is also in poor condition, with officials and local residents raising concerns over accidents on the stretch. To address the immediate problem, the road is proposed to be re-carpeted at an estimated cost of Rs 193 crore.

The tender for the re-carpeting work has been issued and the proposal has been sent to the state government for approval. According to officials, the work is expected to begin after Diwali and will take around 11 months to complete.

Until the re-carpeting work begins and the larger six-laning project moves forward, motorists are likely to continue facing damaged roads and traffic-related problems on the busy route.

The proposed six-laning, once completed, is expected to improve connectivity between Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Amreli while reducing congestion and improving road safety on the existing highway. DeshGujarat