Delhi – Mumbai Expressway: Final Hurdle on Ankleshwar-Kim Package Being Cleared

Surat: A major long-standing hurdle on the Kim-Ankleshwar section of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway is finally being cleared, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) beginning the removal of a 400 kV transmission tower at Piludra near Kim.

The tower, located directly on the expressway alignment in the Bharuch-Surat section, had led to a unique “speed-breaking” situation on the high-speed corridor. As the tower occupied the alignment of the main carriageway, highway authorities were compelled to create a mandatory diversion by constructing a temporary three-lane road that allowed vehicles to bypass the high-tension structure.

Now, AM/NS (ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel) has granted the required transmission line shutdown, allowing NHAI to begin dismantling the tower.

Officials said the removal work is expected to be completed within the coming week. Once the tower is removed, work on the affected carriageway will be expedited and the stretch will be opened to traffic, allowing separate carriageways to operate in both directions.

The new transmission line is already ready for operation. Erection and stringing of nine new 400 kV towers along a route parallel to the old line have been completed, while mandatory approval from the Chief Electrical Inspector (CE) was received on July 13.

The old tower, however, could not be dismantled until the existing transmission line was shut down. With the shutdown now secured, NHAI has started removing the tower and clearing the obstruction from the expressway alignment.

Package-5 of the Kim-Ankleshwar section covers 24.57 km, from km 254.430 to km 279.000. The transmission tower was located at km 269+700. Its removal will clear the way for both carriageways to become operational through the affected stretch.

The opening of the stretch is expected to improve traffic flow and ease congestion on the Bharuch-Ankleshwar-Surat corridor, particularly as traffic movement on the old Narmada bridge on NH-48 is currently affected by heavy congestion and ongoing repair work. The additional expressway capacity is expected to benefit both commuters and freight traffic in the region.

DeshGujarat