Diversion ahead! Work on Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway from Sept

Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway (SG Highway) renovation work will start in the next 30 days. The much-awaited development will include construction of seven pass ways including seven flyovers, two underpasses, and a 4.2-km-long elevated structure for flawless traffic on the 44-km stretch connecting Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. To facilitate this, traffic diversions on the highway will be declared soon.

As many as 211 accidents were recorded last year on this stretch, which sparked the idea to widen the road.

Sources from the Road and Building Department said, "We will consult the Ahmedabad traffic police soon and decide on the diversions or bypass ways to avoid traffic jam at the construction sites. Major construction work will go on in the following stretches — Sola Bhagvat Vidyapith to Zydus Hospital junction, Pakwan Cross Roads, Prahladnagar T Junction, Sanand Crossroads approach and Ujala junction. It is also possible that due to the ongoing construction work, the entire stretch of SG Road will remain choc-a-bloc with traffic."

"Four different firms will be carrying out the construction work and the entire stretch has been divided so that work finishes speedily. However, we expect that the entire work will take two years at least to complete," added the sources.

The Deputy Chief Minister and the Minister for Road and Building Department said, "The construction work will be kicked off soon. We have decided to hold inauguration ceremonies at all four sites. All the formalities have been completed. This will ensure smooth traffic on SG Highway from Chiloda to Ujala junction and one can cover this 40-km distance in only half an hour. A total of Rs 4.68 crore will be spent on the project."

Special arrangement to avoid traffic jams

The Road and Building department will take care of the diversions and will hold discussions with Ahmedabad city police for diversion routes and bypass routes. The government has also requested the city police to depute more traffic cops on the SG Highway during the construction period. The government has also asked construction firms to hire enough traffic marshals to assist the traffic cops. The government will not pay separately for hiring them and their perks and salaries would be the part of the contract amount.

Noise barriers for least disturbance

The Road and Building Department has specified that the flyovers will have noise barriers in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar city so that the residents in nearby areas would not feel disturbed. This is the first time noise barriers will be used in Gujarat. The flyovers in Delhi and Mumbai are equipped with noise barriers.

AMC to build flyover at Prahladnagar T Junction

AMC will be constructing the over-bridge at Prahladnagar T Junction. The civic body was to construct a bridge at Pakwan junction and had allocated budget for the same, but it was sanctioned under the SG Highway renovation work. So the state government has assigned the responsibility of construction of the over bridge at Prahladnagar to AMC.

No U-turn or right turn

Throughout the 40-km stretch, no U-Turn or Right Turn will be allowed, especially within Ahmedabad city. Those who wish to take a turn will have to use the escape ways being made.

Virtual message system at 15 places

There will be virtual message systems on this road. Fifteen big LED screens will be placed at different junctions on the stretch. The passersby can get information on traffic jams, accidents, weather, navigation, or next exit on a real-time basis.

THE BUSY STRETCH

Total distance: 44-km six-lane road including passways

Total traffic: 2.27 lakh Passenger Car Units (PCUs) per day (in 2016)

Commercial vehicles per day: 23,500

Flyover junctions: Infocity, Sargasan crossroads, Unvarsad, Vaishno Devi temple crossroads, Pakvan, Sanand approach and Ujala.

Underpasses: Khodiyar junction, Adani Shantigram

Elevated corridor: Sola Bhagvad Vidyapith to Zydus junction (4.2km)