New Delhi, February 14: In a major boost to infrastructure development, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has greenlit the expansion of two key stretches of National Highway 56 (NH-56) in Gujarat to four lanes. The projects—Dhamasiya-Bitda and Movie-Nasarpor-Maloatha—will cost ₹4,583.64 crore and span a total of 107.67 kilometers.
These upgrades will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), ensuring efficient construction and maintenance. NH-56 originates in Rajasthan’s Nimbahera, traverses Gujarat’s Dahod district, dips into Madhya Pradesh’s Alirajpur, re-enters Gujarat near Chhota Udepur, and culminates near Vapi at its junction with NH-48.
The approved sections weave through Narmada district, forging vital links to tribal belts in Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Tapi, and Bharuch. This enhanced connectivity promises to turbocharge economic growth in these underserved regions. Moreover, it will streamline access to the iconic Statue of Unity in Kevadia village, just 11 km from the highway, drawing more tourists and boosting local economies.
Engineered for speeds up to 100 km/h, the highway will enable average speeds of 70 km/h, slashing travel time by 40%—from 2.5 hours to a swift 1.5 hours. The initiative is set to generate 19.38 lakh direct man-days and 22.82 lakh indirect man-days of employment, with ripple effects spurring additional jobs through heightened economic activity along the corridor.
Complementing ongoing efforts, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, via the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has already kicked off four packages to four-lane the congested Jambughoda (Bodeli)-Maloatha stretch (175 km). Contracts for Dhamasiya and Movie-Nasarpor segments are awarded, with construction underway since November 2025, targeting completion in two years. Once done, seamless four-lane connectivity from Bodeli to Maloatha will decongest NH-56 and enhance links to NH-53, NH-48, and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (NE-4), revolutionizing regional transport.