A meeting of the Gujarat Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday approved a slew of infrastructure projects to develop tourism, including an ambitious Rs 2,440 crore coastal highway project.
Giving details, Education Minister Jitubhai Vaghani who is also the spokesperson for the State Government, told reporters that tourist circuits would be developed along the coastal highways in the State.
“To develop tourist destinations of South Gujarat and Saurashtra, coastal highways will be developed at the cost of Rs 2,440 crore,” he added.
The 135-km coastal highway will connect Tithal, Chorwad and Ubhrat. A new link connecting Khambhat, Kamatlao, Ambli and Patiya will reduce traffic on the roads leading to Bhavnagar and Saurashtra road. It will also reduce the distance by 70-80 km.
At present, traffic towards Saurashtra from central and South Gujarat takes a route through Borsad, Tarapur, Vataman Chowkdi, Dholera to reach Bhavnagar. The new link would be shorter, Vaghani informed. A new flyover will be developed on National Highway-8, near Surat at a cost of Rs 27 crore.
A new tourist corridor on Saputara, Mandvi and Karjan spanning 218 km will connect the Statue of Unity to Shabaridham in Dangs district. It will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,670 crore.
The State Government has decided to purchase 1,000 new advanced public transport buses.
“The highway will help develop Saputara as a tourist hub. Luxury buses with modern facilities will considerably improve accessibility to the rural areas of Gujarat. Sleeper buses are being bought keeping in mind night traveling,” adds Vaghani.
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