The much-anticipated four-lane Ved-Variav Bridge in Surat is set to be virtually inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday. The bridge, eagerly awaited by the local citizens, is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Katargam, Variav, and Chhaprabhata.
Currently, the journey round trip from Katargam to Variav and Chhaprabhata spans six kilometers. With the introduction of the new bridge, this distance is projected to be covered in a mere one and a half to two minutes, offering immense time-saving benefits for commuters.
Approximately eight lakh citizens stand to gain from this infrastructure upgrade. Built at an expenditure of Rs 118.42 crore, the bridge stretches 1.50 km across the Tapi river. This new infrastructure will significantly enhance accessibility for Variav residents to reach key city areas such as Chowk and Station.
Furthermore, the bridge promises to unlock new city-to-Outer Ring Road and National Highway connectivity for residents of Ved, Katargam, and other areas of Surat city. This is expected to result in substantial time and fuel savings for the citizens.
Strategically constructed between the Hayat Jahangirpura-Dabholi Tapi river bridge and the Amroli river bridge, the Ved-Variav Bridge will alleviate the persistent traffic congestion on the Amroli river bridge.
It's worth noting that the bridge's design was approved during Rajesh Desai's tenure as the standing committee chairman. Desai advocated for a new design to safeguard the residences of lower-middle-class citizens, as many residential properties were impacted in the bridge's initial design. This consideration resulted in a slight delay in the bridge's construction, but the finished product is expected to significantly enhance the quality of life for Surat's citizens.
