Surat Municipal Corporation has unveiled a new bridge, spanning one and a half kilometers, and linking Ved and Variav. The bridge, which cost INR 118.42 crore to construct, is expected to significantly reduce travel distances and times, and ease traffic in the area.
The new addition is poised to cut the distance from Katargam to Variav-Chhaprabhata by a third, enabling commuters to traverse the 1496 meter stretch from Ved to Variav in just one and a half minutes. The ease of access and congestion-free commuting provided by the new four-lane bridge is expected to benefit around eight lakh citizens in the vicinity, saving them time and reducing fuel consumption.
This bridge has not only provided thousands of jewelers and citizens with a new transit option from Katargam to Amroli, but also expanded Surat's infrastructure, taking the total number of river bridges, bay bridges, flyover bridges, and railway bridges in the city to 120. The Ved-Variav Bridge is the latest gift to the citizens of Surat, the "Bridge City."
The new Ved-Variav bridge is a boon for motorists, allowing them to bypass a 7.5 km stretch from Katargam to Variav and Chhaprabhata, and reducing the transit time to as little as one and a half to two minutes. This bridge, factoring in traffic conditions in the Katargam-Vedrod and Variav-Amroli-Chhaprabhata areas, provides a quicker route to the city's main regions, like Chowkbazar, for the residents of Variav. Furthermore, the Ved-Variav bridge is now the 15th bridge across the Tapi river.
At the inauguration ceremony held near the Ved Road Swaminarayan Gurukul, Union Minister of State for Railways, Darshanaben Zardosh, praised the local governance's 'triple engine' model for expediting state and central government development projects.
Additionally, Zardosh announced plans for Surat railway station to become India's first multi-modal railway station, integrating Railways, GSRTC City Bus Terminal Station, and Metro services. She envisioned the new state-of-the-art station as a hub for commerce, fostering business, trade, and economic activities. The Union Minister also congratulated the Surat Municipal Corporation for its ongoing development efforts and for delivering on various projects, including the new Ved-Variav bridge.
