Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway Explained

Country:IND
Type:NE
Route:1
Ahmedabad Vadodara Expressway
Alternate Name:Mahatma Gandhi Expressway
Map Custom:yes
Length Km:93.1
Established:[1]
Direction A:North
Terminus A:Ahmedabad
Direction B:South
Terminus B:Vadodara
Maint:National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
States:Gujarat
Cities:Nadiad, Anand

The Ahmedabad Vadodara Expressway or Mahatma Gandhi Expressway or National Expressway 1 is an expressway connecting the cities of Ahmedabad and Vadodara in the state of Gujarat, India.[2] The 93.1km (57.8miles) long[3] expressway reduces the travel time between the two cities[4] from two and a half hours to an hour.[5] It was declared as National Expressway 1 in 1986.[6]

The expressway has 2 lanes each side. The expressway opened in 2004.[7] It has two exit loops at Nadiad and Anand.[8] In 2009, the National Highways Authority of India announced plans to upgrade the expressway to six lanes.[9] Two-wheeler vehicles of all kinds are forbidden on the expressway.[10] The expressway is fenced to prevent the entry of two wheelers and cattle, along with several underpasses and overbridges to allow vehicles to cross over.[11] [12]

History

The expressway was built at a cost of 475 crore and inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 2009, the Government of Gujarat asked the Government of India to extend the expressway to Mumbai.[13] In 2011, IRB Infra won a bid to upgrade the expressway from four lanes to six lanes with service lanes and collect toll.[14] [15] In 2013, it was announced that IRB Infra, which was also upgrading the stretch of the National Highway connecting Ahmedabad and Vadodara as part of the deal, would not collect toll till construction work was completed.[16] The process of upgrading the expressway to six lanes is being done at a cost of 3300 crore.[17]

Toll rates

Toll will be charged at four points - at Ahmedabad, SP Ring Road Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Anand & Vadodara. A summary table of toll rates is as below:

Vehicle category Ahmedabad to Vadodara Nadiad to Vadodara Nadiad to Ahmedabad Ahmedabad to Anand Anand to Vadodara
Two wheeler Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowedNot allowed
Car/Jeep/Van 13575 5555557555

Safety

In 2004, it was reported that the road surface quality on certain stretches of the expressway was inferior due to the substandard quality of construction materials used.[18] In 2005, it was reported that a major accident took place on the expressway, resulting in a pileup that involved nine vehicles due to fog.[19] The Ahmedabad-Nadiad stretch is considered the most dangerous, with fatal accidents reported since the opening of the expressway.[20] [21] The expressway has been referred to as not accident-prone when compared to the Mumbai–Pune Expressway.[22] GSRTC buses are known to travel slowly on the expressway due to speed limits set prior to the opening of the expressway.[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway inauguration on August 16, 2004 . Business Standard .
  2. News: Mahatma Gandhi expressway in a bad shape . 5 July 2005 . Business Standard. Ahmedabad. 2013-07-20.
  3. News: Special purpose vehicle for Ahmedabad-Vadodara scheme. 14 October 2000. The Hindu. New Delhi. 2013-07-23. dead. https://archive.today/20130723135445/http://hindu.com/businessline/2000/10/14/stories/091440c8.htm. 23 July 2013.
  4. News: PM to inaugurate Rs 180-cr Ahmedabad expressway . 27 January 2003 . The Hindu. New Delhi . 2013-07-21.
  5. News: Zip from Vadodara to A'bad in an hour. https://archive.today/20130724114653/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-10/ahmedabad/27159599_1_ahmedabad-and-nadiad-toll-plazas-nadiad-vadodara-stretch. dead. 24 July 2013. Raja. Bose. 10 June 2004. The Times of India. Ahmedabad. 2013-07-24.
  6. http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1986/E-0770-1986-0080-33904.pdf Notification dated March 13, 1986
  7. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ahmedabad-vadodara-expressway-to-be-ready-by-march/137164/ Ahmedabad Vadodara Expressway to be ready by March-Source-Business Standard
  8. News: Atal dream revs up on Ahmedabad Expressway. https://archive.today/20130724114650/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-05-25/ahmedabad/28340838_1_ahmedabad-vadodara-expressway-ahmedabad-expressway-nhai-officials. dead. 24 July 2013. 25 May 2004. The Times of India. Vadodara. 2013-07-24.
  9. News: Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway to become six lane: NHAI . https://archive.today/20130126043119/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-02-28/vadodara/28029736_1_nhai-plans-ahmedabad-vadodara-expressway-national-highways-authority . dead . 2013-01-26 . 2009-02-28 . . 26 May 2012 . Vadodara.
  10. News: No two-wheelers on Expressway? Take that!. https://web.archive.org/web/20140125221708/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-14/ahmedabad/28089941_1_ahmedabad-vadodara-expressway-tyre-bursts-cyclists. dead. 25 January 2014. 14 October 2009. Paul John & Kevin Antao. The Times of India. Ahmedabad. 2013-07-23.
  11. News: After VIPs, aam admi stalls Expressway . https://archive.today/20130725125508/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-07-28/ahmedabad/27168469_1_ahmedabad-vadodara-expressway-underpasses-nhai . dead . 25 July 2013 . 24 July 2004 . The Times of India. Ahmedabad . 2013-07-25.
  12. Web site: 2024-06-05 . Ahmedabad Vadodara Expressway Route Map, Toll Rates, and More - Infra Info Hub . 2024-06-05 . en-US.
  13. News: Guj seeks extension of expressway to Mumbai . Amit . Arora. 29 May 2009. . Gandhinagar . 2013-07-28.
  14. News: IRB ties in record BOT road deal . 2012 . Thomson Reuters . 2013-07-21.
  15. News: Soon, a 10-lane 'Super Expressway' for Vadodara . Himansh . Dhomse . 14 February 2012 . . Ahmedabad. 2013-07-28.
  16. News: New Year gift: No toll on A'bad-Vadodara . 1 January 2013 . . Vadodara. 2013-07-23.
  17. News: Six laning of expressway to be over in two years. 13 May 2013. The Times of India. Gandhinagar. 2013-07-27.
  18. News: Gujarat expressway takes road to destruction . Prabhune. Tushar . 2005-12-25. Ahmedabad. 2013-07-21.
  19. News: Expressway offers speed not safety . https://archive.today/20130725130917/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-31/ahmedabad/27829683_1_vadodara-ahmedabad-expressway-crane-accident . dead . 25 July 2013 . Vikram. Rautela. 31 January 2006. The Times of India. Ahmedabad. 2013-07-25.
  20. News: Fatal surprises on A'bad-Nadiad Expressway . https://archive.today/20130724112824/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-13/ahmedabad/27197692_1_speed-breakers-kmph-caution-signs . dead . 24 July 2013 . Amit . Mukherjee . 13 June 2003 . The Times of India. Nadiad . 2013-07-24.
  21. News: Fatal mishaps on Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway . 14 June 2011. . Ahmedabad . 2013-07-25.
  22. News: Mumbai-Pune Expressway turns into a death trap . 3 January 2012. Daily News and Analysis. Pune. 2013-07-25.
  23. News: Expressway is no boon for GSRTC commuters . Nikunj. Soni. 3 August 2009. Daily News and Analysis. Ahmedabad. 2013-07-28.

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