Truckers Demand Urgent Road Repairs in Gujarat
The Akhil Gujarat Truck Transport Association has reached out to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, pressing for immediate action to address the declining condition of highways in Gujarat. Acting president Mukesh Dave highlighted that transporters are experiencing daily disruptions leading to considerable economic setbacks.
Impact of Poor Road Conditions
In his letter, Dave pointed out that the rough state of Gujarat’s state and national highways has resulted in delays in goods delivery, significantly affecting trade and commerce in the region. Road deteriorations and construction diversions are hindering the flow of goods throughout the state.
Traffic Bottlenecks from Ongoing Construction
Dave noted that the construction of new bridges and elevated roads on already damaged highways is complicating traffic flow. While temporary bypasses have been established, many are in subpar conditions.
Specific Locations Facing Major Issues
National Highway 9 has seen resurfacing work that has halted vehicle movement due to excavations on several bridges, particularly between Vadodara and Surat. Additionally, in Kamrej, three diversions have been created due to bridge construction, further complicating traffic, according to Dave.
List of Poorly Maintained Roads
The association flagged several roads requiring urgent repairs, including:
- Kutch roads are severely damaged
- Morbi to Samakhiali road in poor shape
- Vadodara-Karjan-Por route heavily degraded
- Nabipur to Ankleshwar road completely dilapidated
- Service road on old Narol–Vadodara highway in bad condition due to bridge work
- Ahdmedabad–Himmatnagar road has been under repair for six years
- Worsening conditions on the Ahmedabad–Mumbai corridor, affecting trade between Bharuch, Naswadi, Ankleshwar, and Rajpipla
Government Acknowledges Highway Damage
During a review meeting in Gandhinagar, the Roads and Buildings Department confirmed that 243 bridges in Gujarat are under repair. The National Highways Authority of India reported that 83 km of national highways were damaged during the monsoon, with repairs underway for the most critical sections.
Status of Road Closures and Maintenance Work
As of the latest updates, 136 roads in Gujarat are closed, comprising eight state highways, 120 panchayat roads, one national highway in Chhota Udepur, and seven other routes. Despite ₹107 crore allocated for pre-monsoon maintenance, none of the municipalities conducted any repair work, leading to significant inconveniences for commuters.
