Vadodara: For the last several months, Kandarp Shah, a medical and surgical equipment trader in Godhra, has been forced to hire three-wheel carriers and even use two-wheelers to transport and deliver goods after trucks were barred from reaching his shop due to the ongoing flyover construction, raising his logistics costs.Like Shah, a large number of businessmen in Godhra are incurring inflated transportation costs and delays due to the prolonged delay in completion of the flyover from Prabha Road to Lalbaug and Civil Hospital.The project, which began in 2023, is being executed by the state’s roads and buildings department, but there are no signs of completion.The flyover from Prabha Road in the town to Lalbaug bus stand and Civil Hospital begins at Bhagwat Nagar on Prabha Road. After reaching Gandhi Chowk, one span goes to Civil Hospital while the flyover continues towards Lalbaug bus stand.“The additional spending is on hiring more manpower for distribution of material,” rued Shah.Initially, the plan was to construct the flyover only between Bhagwat Nagar and Lalbaug bus stand. The span towards Civil Hospital was planned later. Sources said the addition as well as design changes led to delays in the project. Until the work is completed, heavy vehicles have been diverted away from parts of the long stretch along which the flyover is being constructed.Consumer durables dealer Nimesh Patel said, “We roped in five three-wheel carriers to bring the goods to the showroom and then distribute them. This increased overheads in the business.”The diversions have even forced transporter Gunjan Shah to shift his office from Kachhiyawad in the town to Bhuravav, where trucks now unload.State transport bus fares were hiked due to the 5.5 km detour buses take to reach the temporary bus stand. An official said the present hike is of Re 1 to Rs 2 for buses going towards Dahod, Zalod, Devgadh Baria and Santrampur.Resident Additional Collector J J Patel said the work on the flyover was expected to be completed by the end of 2025 but may now take six more months. Patel said the delay was due to additions to the project and design changes.Six-laning work behind scheduleRajkot: The 67-km Rajkot–Jetpur highway six-laning project, originally scheduled for completion in June 2024, is now expected to be finished only by early 2027, prolonging hardships for commuters and businesses that depend on the busy corridor.Work on the Rs 1,200-crore road widening project began in Aug 2022 with a target completion date of June 2024. The deadline was first extended to Sept 2025 and has now been pushed further to January 2027. The delay has intensified problems on one of the region’s most important transport arteries, used by an estimated 2.5 lakh vehicles every day.The prolonged construction has significantly affected economic activity in key regional centres such as Junagadh, Somnath, Porbandar and Diu. Industrial clusters and trading hubs that rely on the highway for supply and distribution are facing logistical challenges. These include the Shapar-Veraval engineering cluster, the Jetpur saree industry, and several businesses operating in Junagadh and Veraval.Haresh Bhuva, president of Dhareshwar GIDC in Jetpur, said, “We procure raw materials such as chemicals and dyes from different places and send sarees and dresses to markets across India, particularly the eastern region. Due to massive traffic jams on the highway, transportation is getting delayed and our costs are rising.”Abdullah Khan, project director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said, “We are constructing 30 flyovers on this stretch, of which 12 have already been opened to traffic. We plan to open eight more by the end of this month, which should significantly ease traffic.” – Nimesh KhakhariyaBusiness lost while building and demolishingAhmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) constructed the Hatkeshwar Bridge in Khokhra in 2017 at a cost of Rs 34 crore. Traffic was affected during construction, but it was believed the temporary inconvenience would eventually give way to major relief once the flyover became functional.However, the expectations of businessmen and commuters were dashed within five years as the bridge was found to be dilapidated. In July 2022, vehicular traffic on the bridge was closed. Finally, in July last year, AMC decided to demolish the bridge at a cost of Rs 3.9 crore.The demolition is currently in progress and more than 100 shops, including commercial complexes located on both service roads of the Hatkeshwar Bridge, are witnessing a significant loss of business.Former councillor George Dais said, “Commercial complexes and shops are located on both sides of the bridge. Most shops sell clothes, plastic goods and other items. They are all losing business.”A trader said, “Our wholesale cloth shop is located in a complex near Hatkeshwar Bridge, but for the past four years, since the bridge was closed, customers have avoided coming to the area. As a result, our business has dropped by nearly 50%.” – Jignesh ParmarLand acquisition halts workSurat: The flyover near Rahul Raj Mall in Vesu, meant to connect the area to the barrage bridge over the Tapi river, has remained stalled for over a year after work progressed on only a 500-metre stretch.The bridge construction began at the end of 2024, but the remaining work has seen little progress since then. Two narrow lanes on either side of the barricaded construction site have been kept open for traffic, but these are frequently encroached upon by roadside eateries during the day, with the congestion worsening in the evening.The situation is aggravated because the main entry of Lalbhai Contractor Stadium lies along the same stretch. Major events at the stadium often draw large crowds, leading to severe traffic snarls in the area.“It is unusual to see such a large stretch kept barricaded for over a year even when construction work has stopped. We are suffering every day,” said a businessman who travels through the area several times daily.Officials said part of the flyover pillars have already been constructed, making it difficult to remove barricades and fully open the road to traffic. A Surat Municipal Corporation official said the project stalled due to pending land acquisition for the remaining portion connecting to the barrage bridge, but the process is now in its final stages and work will resume soon. – Yagnesh Mehta
