Cabinet Greenlights ₹4,584 Crore Highway Expansion to Boost Gujarat’s Tribal Regions
Four-lane upgrade of 108-km NH-56 stretch to slash travel time by 40% and generate over 42 lakh man-days of employment
NEW DELHI, February 14, 2026 — The Union Cabinet has sanctioned a major infrastructure project worth ₹4,583.64 crore to upgrade two critical sections of National Highway-56 in Gujarat to four-lane standards, a move expected to transform connectivity in the state’s tribal heartland and boost tourism to the iconic Statue of Unity.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of four-lane stretches covering Dhamasiya–Bitada/Movi (47.46 km) and Nasarpore–Malotha (60.21 km) under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The combined project spans 107.67 km and is designed to achieve speeds of 100 km/h, enabling average travel speeds of 70 km/h.
The upgradation will dramatically reduce travel time by 40 percent—cutting the journey from 2.5 hours to just 1.5 hours across the stretch. This efficiency gain is expected to catalyze economic activity and ease congestion along one of Gujarat’s key arterial routes.
Connectivity to Aspirational Districts
The approved sections traverse the Aspirational District of Narmada and will significantly improve access to tribal areas across Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Tapi, and Bharuch districts. The project aligns with the government’s broader strategy to drive economic growth in underserved regions and enhance last-mile connectivity.
Notably, the highway upgrade will improve access to the Statue of Unity, located approximately 11 km from NH-56 in Kevadia village. The world’s tallest statue has emerged as a major tourist magnet, and improved road infrastructure is expected to further boost visitor numbers and stimulate the local economy.
Massive Employment Generation
The project is poised to create substantial employment opportunities, generating an estimated 19.38 lakh man-days of direct employment and 22.82 lakh man-days of indirect employment during the construction phase. Officials anticipate additional job creation as economic activity intensifies along the corridor following completion.
Strategic Corridor Development
NH-56 originates at Nimbahera in Rajasthan and passes through Dahod District in Gujarat, Alirajpur District in Madhya Pradesh, before re-entering Gujarat near Chhota Udepur District and terminating at its junction with NH-48 near Vapi.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is executing the upgradation of the congested Jambugam (Bodeli)-Malotha section of NH-56—a 175-km stretch—under four separate packages.
Construction has already commenced on the Jambugam (Bodeli) to Dhamasiya and Movi to Nasarpore sections, which were awarded in November 2025 with a targeted completion period of two years. Once the newly approved packages are completed, a continuous four-lane corridor from Bodeli to Malotha will be operational, significantly easing congestion on NH-56.
The enhanced connectivity will also establish seamless links to NH-53, NH-48, and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (NE-4), creating a robust regional transportation network that promises to unlock economic potential across western India.
