Expressway to be opened soon

The previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre had ignored the grievances of farmers and villagers residing on either side of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, said Union minister of state for Road Transport and Highways K H Muniappa.

Muniappa said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will now spend an additional amount to meet their demands. The government will spend an additional Rs 50 lakh per kilometre in the stretch between Ahmedabad and Vadodara to construct more service roads, underpasses and bridges.

"We have to acquire land for the purpose and have already begun talks with district collectors," said Muniappa.

Muniappa said he was also in talks with elected representatives of the areas including MPs Dinsha Patel and Bharat Solanki.

Rajesh Bhatt, project director of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, said the expressway will be inaugurated soon.

"Rs 550 crore has been spent on the project, of which Rs 350 crore has been spent on the Ahmedabad-Nadiad stretch, while Rs 200 crore has been spent on the Nadiad-Vadodara stretch. Once inaugurated, people will be able to travel between Ahmedabad and Vadodara in about 75 minutes."

Bhatt said all that remains is fencing over around one and a half kilometres of the expressway.

Muniappa said he came to Gujarat to take stock of the project. "There are just a couple of things that have to be sorted out and the expressway will be inaugurated very soon," said Muniappa.

Vehicles have already been plying on the Ahmedabad-Nadiad stretch although the expressway is yet to be inaugurated.

Asked about toll tax collected from vehicles on roads and bridges that are constructed on a built-operate-transfer (BOT) basis with the help of the private sector, the minister said the toll was introduced by the NDA government.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is constructing most of the highways, where toll will not be collected, said Muniappa.

Muniappa said while expressways are essential, there is a need to protect the interest of villagers.

"Where will bullock carts, tractors, cycles and pedestrians go? What is the use of expressway if people have to walk two kilometres just to cross the expressway to go to the other half of the field?" asked Muniappa.