Ahmedabad: The construction of the 109-kilometer expressway linking Ahmedabad with Dholera, which according to the Gujarat government was supposed to be completed by May this year, is facing delays. Two ministers had stated in the State Assembly earlier this year, in February-March, that the expressway was targeted to be ready by the end of May 2025. However, the reality on the ground is different, as a few major works on the highway are yet to be completed. With the monsoon approaching, the highway is now likely to become operational only after the rainy season ends.

The expressway connects the Sardar Patel Ring Road in Ahmedabad with India’s first Greenfield Smart City at Dholera. According to the latest updates on construction status by YouTubers and vloggers, starting from Ahmedabad, the construction work on the diamond interchange at the SP Ring Road is complete, and plantation work is underway.

As we move toward Dholera, a steel railway overbridge is being constructed about 5 km along the expressway at Tajpur village in Sanand. Here, the steel bridge is being assembled, and construction of the ramps on the Dholera side is still underway. Although the pillars for the steel bridge are ready, work to launch the steel and concrete girders will take time. This elevated section, spanning approximately 700 meters, has become the first bottleneck on the expressway, which is reportedly about 95% complete according to the state government.

After this, around 25 km from Ahmedabad is the village Juval Rupavati, where work on the expressway has not yet progressed on a small portion. This is because GETCO’s Juval Rupavati 66kV substation is situated in the middle of the expressway alignment and has not yet been shifted. The stretch of around 100 meters cannot begin construction until the substation is completely relocated to its designated site nearby.

Just after this substation, another key section under construction is the bridge at the intersection of State Highway 74 and the expressway. Although the pillars and bridge structure are ready, work on the ramps is still ongoing.

Aside from these three major bottlenecks, most of the expressway is reportedly ready, with lane markings completed across major stretches, and toll plazas and interchanges like Pipli Junction, Ambli Interchange, and Adhelai Interchange all in place.

Therefore, considering the ground reality, the expressway, which was targeted for completion by May 2025, is facing delays, and the monsoon is expected to further slow down the remaining work. The inauguration will now likely take place only after the monsoon season, possibly around Navratri or Diwali — or perhaps even later. DeshGujarat