Project Overview

The Ahmedabad Dholera under-construction expressway is a 109-km-long expressway on National Highway 751. It is a four-lane (expandable to eight-lane) Expressway developed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Being part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), it connects the Sardar Patel Ring Road near Sarkhej and the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) through Dholera International Airport at Navagam. 

The project is developed into four packages and operates under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model. This Expressway offers high-speed travel, aiming to reduce travel time to approximately 40 minutes. Currently, it takes 2.25 hours to travel. Upon its operation, it will boost industrial activities in Ahmedabad and Dholera.

As of May 2025, the project is under construction with 95% of the work done. It is expected to be open post-monsoon, during the Navratri or Diwali Festivals (October-November 2025). 

Project Background

The Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway is built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under Bharatmala Pariyojana and is sponsored and funded by the Government of India.  It will connect Gujarat’s largest city, Ahmedabad, to India’s Greenfield Smart City, Dholera. Upon its operation, travelers can travel from Ahmedabad to Dholera in just 40 minutes.

The idea for the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway emerged in 2010 with Gujarat’s State Road and Building Department, but gained momentum in 2019 when the NHAI stepped in. SMEC India Pvt. Ltd prepared its Detailed Project Report (DPR). The land acquisition process was completed in July 2020. Contracts were awarded to Sadbhav Engineering, GHV, India, and DRA Infracon in November 2020. 

Project Timeline

Project Scope

The project scope includes the following:

• Interchanges: The Expressway features eight major interchanges along its route. It includes Diamond, Cloverleaf, Butterfly Circle, etc. 

• Connectivity to Dholera International Airport: An interchange at Pipli Junction provides direct access to the Dholera International Airport through a 9.56 km link road. 
  

• Speed: The Expressway is designed to run at a maximum speed of 120 km/hr. It has the capacity to handle up to 25,000 vehicles daily.  
  

• Roadside Amenities: This includes truck and bus lay-bys, service roads, rest areas, street lighting, emergency telecommunications, and medical aid posts approximately every 50 km.
  

• Safety and Wildlife Crossings: The Expressway features Pedestrian and cattle underpasses, wildlife corridors of approximately 4.5 x 7 m, crash barriers, speed cameras, and signage.

• Plantings and Greenery: The expressway route encompasses the planting of approximately 97,195 trees, spread across approximately 97 hectares of land in total. 
  

• Recycling Materials: The expressway is constructed using recycled materials. 20–35 lakh m³ of waste from Pirana landfill and ~1.7 crore m³ of fly ash used in earthwork

Project Cost

The total estimated cost for constructing the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway is INR 4,373 crore. 

Route Map Of the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway

Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway Route

The Ahmedabad Dholera 109 km long Expressway starts from the Sardar Patel Ring Road near Sarkhej, southwest of Ahmedabad. It heads towards Dholera, passing through NH-8, SH-4, SH-6, and the coast of the Sabarmati River. Including the eight major interchanges, the Expressway forms the central spine of the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR).

The five main interchanges along the Expressway

The Expressway features eight major interchanges along its route. Out of these, the five foremost interchanges comprise the following:

• Sarkhej Interchange is located on the SP Ring Road near Sarkhej. It features a diamond interchange that is fully operational, connecting SP Ring Road to NH-8A.

• Sindhrej Interchange is located near Sindhrej village, marking the end of package 1.
  

• The Vejalaka Interchange is situated near the Vejalaka village. It is another access point at Ahmedabad and Dholera. 
  

• Pipli Junction is situated near Dholera International Airport at Navagam. This interchange provides direct access to the airport through a 9.56 km link road. 

• Ambali Interchange is the first within the Dholera SIR in Ahmedabad. It provides direct access to the industrial and smart city zones.

Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway Exit Point

The endpoint or exit point of the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway is located at the Adhelai Interchange in Adhelai village, Bhavnagar district. It is a 25 km long stretch, attainable via state highways.

Advanced Technology used in the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway

• Solar-powered infrastructure is used in the expressway lighting, with the motive to support Dholera's solar parks (including a 5,000 MW solar park in the region).

• Smart grids are designed to distribute energy efficiently across the corridors. 

• The use of rainwater harvesting, green corridor irrigation, and plantation management systems along the expressway supports the environment. 

• FASTag electronic tolling—facilitates closed-loop ETC for seamless toll collection.

Investors of the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway

Packages of Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway

Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway Updates & Completion Date

The 109 km long Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway was expected to be completed by May 2025. However, due to major construction work on the Expressway still being underway, the completion date has been extended to October or November 2025. (After Monsoon, between Navratri and Diwali).

The work is about 95% complete as of May 2025. The steel bridge at Tajpur village in Sanand is being constructed, and the construction of the ramps is still in progress. Although the steel and concrete girders for the Steel Bridge are ready, their launch will require time. 

Furthermore, another bridge is under construction at the intersection of SH-74. Bridge pillars and bridge design are complete; ramp work is ongoing. 

In conclusion, the Expressway is currently facing delays, and it is expected to experience further delays with the arrival of the monsoon. Completion is expected post-monsoon, during Navratri or Diwali. 

Benefits of the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway

Upon completion, the Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway will form the backbone of the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR). The Expressway includes the following:

• Reduce Travel Time: Currently, the travel time between Ahmedabad and Dholera is approximately 2 hours. Upon its completion, the travel time will be reduced to 40 or 45 minutes. 

• Saving the Environment: The Expressway facilitates smooth and swift traffic, thereby reducing emissions and pollution. The decrease in pollution results in environmental preservation.

• Rise in the agricultural sector: Farmers will be able to gain a higher return on their products.  

• Boost Economy: The Expressway will stimulate industrial development and attract investment to the state. Further, it will create multiple jobs in manufacturing, logistics, and infrastructure. Therefore, it boosts the state's economy. 

• Reduced Operation and Maintenance Costs: Proper road alignments will reduce the cost of Operation and Maintenance. Amenities such as bus bays, truck lay-bys, rest areas, pedestrian and cattle underpasses, emergency telecom systems, and an emergency medical aid post are under construction. 

• Improved quality of life: Better social and health infrastructure enhances the quality of life for people in the Gujarat Region. 

• Job Creation: The expressway is expected to create approximately 80,000 jobs (both direct and indirect) upon its operation. It will create jobs in the infrastructure, industrial, and real estate sectors. 

Conclusion

The Ahmedabad Dholera Expressway is a key milestone in Gujarat’s Infrastructure Sector. With a reduced travel time of 40 Minutes, the Expressway connects to Dholera International Airport, the Special Investment Region, and other Infrastructural hubs in the region. Upon its operation, the Expressway is the backbone of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor in Gujarat.

With nearly 95% of the work completed to date, completion is expected post-monsoon, around the time of Navratri and Diwali. The Expressway has led to a rise in the industrial sector, real estate development, and regional urbanization. It positions Gujarat as a global smart city and Manufacturing destination, accelerating economic growth across the country.

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