Gujarat – Transportation Network
Gujarat is a haven of a mammoth transportation network encompassing national highways, state highways, district highways, district roads and rural roads (sugarcane roads and Panchayat roads). The State consists of more than 300 state highways covering a distance of 19,761 Km and 13 national highways covering a distance of 3245 Km.
Road Transport
- One of the most widespread and all embracing as well as traffic exhaustive road-networks in India is found in the state of Gujarat. The present total road length in Gujarat is approximately 74,500 Km and can roughly be divided into a core and a non-core network. National highways and about 6000 Km state highways comprise the core network whereas the remainder comprises the non-core state highways, major district roads, other district roads and village roads.
- If one takes a look at the road density in the state of Gujarat one finds the same to be more or less 38 Km per 100 Sq. Km and 146 Km per lakh of population and these figures are largely comparable to the road density for India being 43 Km per 100 Sq. Km and 126 Km per lakh of population. In order to attend to the need of improvement and preservation of the core network the state government has started a go-getting and ambitious 6000 Km State Highway Development Program (SHDP). In order to supplement and enhance road connectivity of DFC and DMIC areas with Ports and other growth centers arterial network has been identified and recognized.
- The Golden Quadrilateral North South East West axis of the National Highway Development Program passing through to the State have given benefit and advantage to the national highway network of Gujarat. That apart, what has resulted in a reasonably better quality national highway network in the State compared to a number of other parts of the country is the combined effect of the revolutionary PPP Roads, expressways, 6 lane projects (under advanced phases of NHDP), sensible and discreet use of external funding and a comparatively better maintenance regime. A number of network improvement schemes and projects such as the World Bank Funded Roads, Pragati Path, Kisan Path and Vikas Path road development programs have been employed and put into operation by the State and such programs have culminated in a sizeable advancement and improvement of quite a few key stretches of State highways thereby offering reasonably sound experiences of ridership.
- To provide and accommodate the requirements of up-and-coming growth centers in vein of industrial parks, ports, SEZs and SIRs, and urban centers which will identify and describe the Gujarat economic landscape is a key challenge for the core network. It is needless to say that moving onwards and continuing to make available quality roads of sufficient capacity will be significant and vital for the state. It is important to see this in the background of facilitating transaction and competitiveness. Providing a class and an excellent road network through output focused delivery systems can ensure this.
- The first state in India to have a law governing Build Own and Transfer (BOT) transaction and such other measures and arrangement coupled with private participation in infrastructure is Gujarat. It is interesting indeed that the roads in the transport sector in Gujarat account for almost 17.05 % of the total planned investments amounting to Rs. 39110 crores for the period upto 2020 of “ Blue Print for Infrastructure in Gujarat-Vision 2020” prepared by GIDB.
- Category of Roads in Gujarat
The roads in Gujarat and their extent/distance may be categorized as below:
| Type of Road | Length (in km) |
| State Highways: | 19,761 |
| National Highways: | 3,245 |
| Sugarcane Roads: | 1,746 |
| Panchayat Roads: | 30,019 |
- The total length of roads (except Non-plan, Community, Urban and Project roads) in the State has increased to 79894 kms. at the end of 2013-14 from 78558 Kms. at the end of 2012-13. Out of the total road length of 79894 Kms., the length of surfaced roads was 77864 Kms. (97.46 percent), where as unsurfaced roads was 2030 Kms., (2.54 percent) at the end of 2013-14.
- Out of the total road length of 79894 Kms. at the end of the year 2013-14, the length of National Highways was 4023 kms, State Highways was 18017 kms., Major District Roads was 20472 kms., Other District Roads was 10213 kms. and Village Roads was 27169 kms.
- National Highway length is increased due to some State Highways were transferred to National Highway. Total road length equivalent to length of Standard Single Lane (SSL) (SSL=3.75 m) was 98965 kms. for the year 2012-13. Due to widening of roads in the year 2013-14 this equivalent length is 103005 kms.
Safety Policy – 2016.
- For fitness of the commercial vehicles in the state, Development of “Computerized Fitness Centre” for Ahmedabad, Kutch (Bhuj), Rajkot and Vadodara are under process.
- The Number of registered Motor Vehicles has increased from 187.20 lakh in the year 2014-15 to 203.61 lakh in the year 2015-16 (growth of 8.76 % during the year). During the year 2015-16, the number of registered motor cycles/scooters/ mopeds were increased from 137.05 lakh to 149.19 lakh, the three and four wheelers category the number of Auto-rickshaws were increased from 6.78 lakh to 7.18 lakh, motor cars (including Jeeps) were increased from 21.89 lakh to 24.44 lakh, goods vehicles (including Tempo) were increased from 9.42 lakh to 10.09 lakh, trailers were increased from 3.54 lakh to 3.69 lakh and tractors were increased from 6.10 lakh to 6.41 lakh as compared to the year 2014-15.
Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation
- Number of routes operated by the Corporation at the end of 2014-15 were 14706 which has increased to 15353 at the end of the year 2015-16 and route kms coverage has increased from 11.91 lakh kms in 2014-15 to 12.22 lakh kms. in 20155.59
- The average number of vehicles on road during the year 2015-16 were 6587 as against 6683 in 2014-15. Total effective kms. of the Corporation which were 10557.66 lakh at the end of 2014-15 has increased to 10665.37 lakh at the end of 2015-16. The average daily vehicle utilization was 438 Kms at the end of 2014-15 which has increased to 448 kms. at the end of 2015
- The average number of passengers travelled per day has slightly decreased from 21.19 lakh in 2014-15 to 20.80 lakh in 2015-16. Gross Earning of the Corporation was Rs. 2862.18 crore in 2014-15 (Tentative)which has decreased to 2566.96 crore in 2015-16 (Tentative).
Bridges in Gujarat
· Ellis Bridge
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, across the Sabarmati River is situated a century old heritage bridge called the Ellis Bridge. Constructed in 1892, this bowstring arch truss bridge was the first bridge of Ahmedabad. Later on new concrete wings were constructed on either side of the said bridge in the year 1997and it was renamed as Swami Vivekananda Bridge. However people still know it by its old name.
An iconic landmark and symbol of Ahmedabad, this 120 year old bridge appeared in films like Kai Poche! which was released in 2013 and Kevi Rite Jaish released in 2012. Most remarkably at the west end of the bridge is located the Karnavati Art Gallery which regularly exhibits art.
· Golden Bridge
In the year 1881, the British, in order to cater to their need of a bridge across Narmada River for the purpose of creation of superior access to trade and official administration officials in Bombay(now known as Mumbai), built the Golden Bridge that connects Ankleshwar to Bharuch.
Actually this bridge is called the Narmada Bridge.
It is fascinating that the golden Bridge, though having confronted with and exposed to a number of floods and natural disasters like earthquakes has not only survived them all but has stood tall for 129 years providing and facilitating daily transportation to the people of Ankleshwar and Bharuch.
As a matter of fact, this bridge, which is as much a part of the rich history of Bharuch as are the city’s archaeological and architectural wonders, mostly temples, is undeniably worth a look.
· Nehru Bridge
Playing the role of an artery of major public transport for the city of Ahmedabad in the State of Gujarat is a major bridge running over the river Sabarmati and known as the Nehru Bridge. As compared to the landmark Ellis Bridge the Nehru Bridge is a modern, superior and larger one being dedicated to the first prime minister of india Jawahar Lal Nehru.
The Patang Revolving Restaurant, which is one of the attractions of Ahmedabad city, is positioned near the Nehru Bridge on the banks of Sabarmati River.
· Subhash Bridge
On account of its association with Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Bridge is an important area in Ahmedabad. 1.5 Km away from Subhash Bridge is located the Gandhi Ashram. It is notable that the Gandhi Ashram Shopping Area is a store house of Khadi. With more than 80 residential societies spread over Subhash Bridge stands as the residential area of Ahmedanbad, and has been separated from the rest of the city by a railway line in the west and the Sabarmati River to its eastern side.
Railways in Gujarat
The Western Railways which is a division of the Indian Railways has the state of Gujarat under its jurisdiction. The Ahmedabad Railway Station, Surat Railway Station, Vadodara Railway Station and Rajkot Railway Station are the major railway stations of the state. It is being contemplated by the Indian Railways that a Delhi Mumbai Itinerary moving across the state of Gujarat should be laid down. There is also a proposal of a Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Passenger Corridor which will cover the states of Maharastra and Gujarat by the government. The Vadodara Railway Station being the busiest railway junction in the State is the 4th busiest railway junction in the entire nation. This station connects Delhi and Mumbai and lies on the Western Railway Mainline.
The railways in Gujarat provide a fast, economical and simple means of transport both for goods as well as passengers. The main cities of Gujarat are connected to the metropolitan in India. The major rail routes may be categorized as follows:
· Broad Gauge
· Meter Gauge
· Narrow Gauge
Major Railway Station in Gujarat
· Ahmedabad Railway Station
Gujarat’s main railway station is the Ahmedabad Railway Station which is also the biggest as well as the busiest railway station within the State. Apart from Mumbai Division, the Ahmedabad Railway Station is the second highest income-generating division in the Western Railways.
A new initiative that has been introduced by the Ahmedabad Railway Station is the hand push luggage trolley service which otherwise is available only at the airports. Initially a sum of Rs. 5/- per luggage trolley will be charged from the travelers by the Railways and at present, for the time being this service is available only for platform no. 1. However, once the new elevators and escalators start functioning by the end of this year, the said trolley service shall be introduced in all the platforms of the Railway Station of Ahmedabad.
· Anand Railway Station
In Anand, Gujarat is situated a major junction known as the Anand Railway Station. Connecting Ahmedabad with Vadodara and Mumbai, this junction was initiated in the year 1901. In the year 1929, a 14 mile long Broad Guage line was started which connected Vadtai with Anand and Boriavi and benefitted the pilgrims visiting the Swaminarayan Temple in Vadtai. There are other Broad Guage branches from Anand that link it to Godhra and Cambay.
In the year 2011 was proclaimed by the Indian Railways, its objective to set-up a “multi-function complex” together with budget hotels at the Anand Railway Station.
· Rajkot Railway Station
The main railway station in the city of Rajkot in Gujarat is the Rajkot Railway Station which is also known as the Rajkot Junction. This Railway Station is within the jurisdiction of the Western Railways zone of the Indian Railways and is the primary terminus for rail transport in the city. The Bhaktinagar Railway Station is the other railway station in Rajkot.
The Rajkot Railway Station is located on the Ahemadabad Hepa Broad Guage line and is linked to the Viramgam-Okha rail-route by a Broad Guage line. To the west, 88 kilometers (55 miles) away is the major railhead at Jamnagar. It is a junction for Somnath-Viramgam and Okha-Rajkot branch lines of the Western Railways.
There are available enquiry counters, reservation halls, tea stalls, ice-cream stalls and cold drinking water facilities at the station. Besides, it has an ATM which is run by the State bank of Saurashtra and also an electronic reservation system available.
A comprehensive automation and infrastructure development of the station is going on along with making available a cybercafe, additional ATMs, vending machines, a cafeteria and waiting rooms. Also in progress is the work of doubling of the Rajkot-Viramgam route, which is likely to augment the number of daily trains as well as the traffic. It is also expected that in the near future the route shall be made electrical.
Of late, a lift connecting the platform nos. 1, 2 and 3 has been constructed.
· Surat Railway Station
Surat, the second largest city of Gujarat has the Surat Railway Station offering its services to it apart from other railway stations in the city namely Gotahngam, Kosad, Uttran, Udhan Junction, Bhestan, Niol and Sachin Railway Stations. After Mumbai of the Mumbai Division, Western Railways, the Surat Railway Station is the 2nd most earning railway station. This station is also under the administrative control and jurisdiction of the Western Railway zone of the Indian Railways and is located on the Ahmedabad RailwayStation-Vadodara-Mumbai rail route. It was built in the year 1860 and is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kanpur, Nagpur and all the major stations in India by several trains like Jaipur Superfast Express, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Shatabdi Express, Karnavati Express, Paschim Express, Surat-Bandra Express, Indore – Mumbai Avantika Express, Indore – Pune Express, Indore – Surat Express, August Kranti Rajdhani Express.
The station has Advance Railway Ticketing System installed thereat for issuance of unreserved tickets in advance. Besides, also is available therein, a Voice Response System (VRS). As one moves towards the North, the nearest railhead is the Uttran Railway Station and towards the South of Surat is the Udhna Junction Railway Station.
There is an ATM of the Axis Bank and also ATMs of some other Banks inside the Surat Railway Station. Situated on the 1st floor thereof is the Food Express Restaurant which is open round the clock. The City Bus Terminal is outside the station which can be accessed to visit the suburbs and the important areas of the city. Some nearby sites worth visiting are: the Sardar Patel Museum, the Textile Market and the Dutch Garden.
· Vadodara Railway Station
The main railway station of the Vadodara city in Gujarat is the Vadodara Railway Station. Not only is it the busiest Railway Station of the State rather also one of the busiest stations of India. A major stop on the western railway zone of the Indian railways, the Vadodara Station has 2 railway lines: a direct line connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai and another line connecting Ahmedabad and New Delhi through Kota, Ratlam and Mathura.
The Ratlam line is used by trains departing towards the northern region while rest of the trains such as the Ahmedabad Shatabdi, Gujarat Mail, Suryanagari Express, Delhi Sarai Rohilla Garib Rath, Karnavati Express, Ranakpur Express, Mumbai Rajdhani, Trivandrum Rajdhani , Avantika Express, August Kranti Rajdhani, Golden Temple Mail etc. use the Ahmedabad-Mumbai line.
One of the biggest electric loco sheds of Western Railway zone is at Vadodara which contains more than 130 locomotives including WAP-4, WAG-5 and WAM-4 locomotives. Furthermore, Vadodara also has a shed for AC electric trip which harbours locos that arrive from other sheds. It also has a shed for AC/DC dual loco trip which harbours WCAM class locomotives coming from Valsad shed which facilitates required change of locomotive at Vadodara. Change in locomotive is required for the AC locomotive trains that are taking the New Delhi mainline route and the trains departing towards Mumbai require AC/DC locomotive because Mumbai supplies DC till Borivali.There is also a shed for MEMU car in the Vadodara Railway Station which harbours multiple units of Mainline Electric which provide feeder services to Surat, Ahmedabad, Godhra and Dahod.
· Other Railway Stations in Gujarat
Maninagar Railway Station
Sabarmati Junction Railway Station
Derol Railway Station
Jetalsar Railway Station
Bajva Railway Station
Nandesari Railway Station
The total length of railway lines in the State as on 31st March, 2015 was 5258.49 route kms. comprising 3506.55 kms. of Broad Gauge (BG), 1193.04 kms. of Meter Gauge (MG) and 558.90 kms. of Narrow Gauge (NG) lines.
Aviation in Gujarat
- The State of Gujarat has a total of 17 Airports of which 09 are under operational jurisdiction of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), 3 with I.A.F. of which 2 have Civil Terminal, 2 Airport are private Airports and 2 Airport are at union territory of Daman and Diu which do not from part of Gujarat but are used frequently by State People.
- Out of the 09 AAI Airports Ahmedabad is an International Airport. The other are Vadodara, Surat, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Bhuj, Keshod, Kandla and Deesa which are Domestic Airport, Among these Keshod and Deesa Airport have no scheduled flight.
Three Airstrips under the State Government jurisdiction
- Mehsana
- Amreli
- Mandvi
- At the Domestic and International airport in Gujarat,aircraft movement has increased by 20.16 percent in the year 2015-16 as compared to previous year. Passenger traffic has increased from 65.47 lakhs in the year 2014-15 to 81.90 lakhs in the year 201516 (25.09 percent) and cargo traffic has also increased from 61.70 thousand tonnes in the year 2014-15 to 70.19 thousand tonnes during the year 2015-16 (13.77 percent).
Waterways in Gujarat
- Gujarat is having one of the largest sea coast line ~1600 kms in India. The inland road ways though verydeveloped takes time say for example if one has to travel from Mandvi in Kucth region to Okha in Saushtrait takes 10 hours plus to reach, where as if there is a ferry service of Hovercraft it will take hardly 1.5 hoursto reach, plus it is more convenient travel.
- At least five rivers of Gujarat — including Mahi, Narmada, Sabarmati and Tapi that flow into the Gulf of Khambhat — are being explored for inland water transport under the National Waterway Act, 2016. 436 km on River Tapi (National Waterway-100) from Hathnur dam in Maharashtra to the Gulf of Khambhat, 212 km on the Sabarmati (National Waterway -87) from Sadholiya to the Gulf, 227 km on Narmada (National Waterway-73) from Pandhariya (near Gujarat-Maharashtra border) and 248 km on Mahi (National Waterway-66) from Kadana dam to the mouth of the river. Meanwhile, feasibility study is in progress for Jawai-Luni rivers (National Waterway 48) that originate in the Aravalli ranges in Rajasthan, but ends in the marshes of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
- The length of the waterway — about 324 km — of this river system falls in the Rann of Kutch.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated Phase 1 of the Ro-Ro (Roll on, Roll off) ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej in Gujarat on Oct 2017.
- This will be South Asia’s first world-class Ro-Ro ferry service. The project will link South Gujarat and Saurashtra and by allowing vehicles with passengers aboard, will save travel time, fuel and will clear congested roads.
- World-class terminals have been built at Ghogha near Bhavnagar and Dahej near Bharuch. The impact will be reducing the distance between the two points to 30km (by sea) from the present 350km (by road), bringing down the travel time from 7-8 hours to just one hour after the ferry service begins.
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