Surat Welcomes its 120th Bridge, the Ved-Variav Span, Inaugurated by Chief Minister
The Newly Constructed ₹118.42 Crore Bridge Promises to Enhance Connectivity and Reduce Travel Time for Local Residents
Surat, May 18: Today marks a significant day for Surat as Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel is set to inaugurate the city's 120th bridge, enhancing connectivity between Ved and Variav. The inauguration ceremony will take place at 5 pm.
The newly constructed Vade-Variav bridge, a project of Surat Municipal Corporation, spans one and a half kilometers and comes with a price tag of ₹118.42 crores. The four-lane bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time, particularly the distance from Katargam to Variav-Chhaprabhata, by one-third.
This impressive 1496 meter-long construction will allow residents to travel from Ved to Variav in just one and a half minutes, providing easy, traffic-free movement for around eight lakh citizens of the surrounding areas. The new bridge is anticipated to not only save time but also reduce fuel consumption.
This bridge provides a new option for thousands of gem artists and citizens commuting from Katargam to Amroli. It brings the total number of river bridges, bay bridges, flyover bridges, and railway bridges to 120 in Surat, thereby solidifying its moniker as 'Bridge City'.
The Ved-Variav bridge will drastically cut the existing 7.5 km commute from Katargam to Variav and Chhaprabhata. The bridge is expected to ease traffic congestion in the Katargam-Vedrod and Variav-Amroli-Chhaprabhata areas on the opposite side of the Tapi river. It will provide better connectivity for Variav residents to key city areas like Chowkbazar, Athwaline, and the railway station, Laldarwaja.
The newly constructed bridge will also offer direct, traffic-free access to the National Highway, including the Outer Ring Road being built around the city. Furthermore, it will alleviate the traffic load on the Amroli Bridge, built on the Tapi river near Katargam Gajera School, by providing an alternative route. This makes the Ved-Variav bridge the 15th river bridge built on the Tapi river, symbolizing a significant milestone in the city's development.
