Soon after approving construction of four inter-city access-controlled expressways along a 1,000-km stretch in the country, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited alignment finalisation consultancy for the 400-km long six-lane Vadodara-Mumbai expressway.

The Vadodara-Mumbai section—the costliest ever at a staggering Rs 6,672 crore for a single section—was high on priority and got the first go-ahead from NHAI last year as it would link the two industrial hubs with a mere five hour drive linking up with the existing 100-km long Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway. At present, India only has two expressways —92 km between Mumbai and Pune and 93 km between Vadodara-Ahmedabad.

“The expressway will be formed on completely new alignment, hence the need for a full fledged alignment study. This study will be done not just based on the ground situation but essentially through extensive usage of satellite based remote sensing and digital terrain models. The study, which is likely to be done within four months of a bidder being selected, would be the basis of planning, design, development and construction of the expressway,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways. The project is expected to be completed by December 2015, he added.

The NHAI is looking at an alignment design that will not only optimise transportation cost and efficiency but also be acceptable from social and environmental aspects. The expressway would be so designed that it connects well with the existing National Highway network in the area.

The NHAI has specified in its bid document that the expressway, which is to be designed for a speed of 120kmph, should not affect ecological sensitivities in any manner and agricultural land should not have to be acquired for it. “The idea is to have the alignment cross wasteland and non-agricultural land and yet also be cost efficient,” added the official. The expressway is expected to be out for bidding by May this year.

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