SURAT - City officials have confirmed the forthcoming inauguration of the long-awaited Kadodara underpass, situated at a vital crossroads at the entrance of Surat city. The six-lane underpass, set to launch on May 25th, will ease the traffic flow at the junction where National Highway 48 intersects with Highway No. 6, the Surat-Bardoli road.

The push for a solution to escalating traffic woes at Kadodara intersection led to the call for the construction of an overbridge. However, due to budgetary constraints, the decision was made to opt for an underpass instead of an additional overbridge. The construction work commenced in November 2020, with an estimated budget of 67 crores, culminating in its completion in 2023.

Harsh Sanghvi, Minister of State for Home, is slated to preside over the launch ceremony, marking the underpass's opening to the public. The new underpass is expected to bring much-needed relief to the local community from the persistent traffic snarls.

Details about the underpass reveal a structure measuring 935 meters in length and 23 meters in width. The six-lane underpass features a depth of 5.5 meters at its central part, ensuring efficient traffic movement. It is equipped with six pumps for water evacuation during the monsoon and boasts spans on both sides to provide structural stability and prevent damage.

The National Highway Authority will oversee the inauguration of the new underpass on the Surat-Bardoli road. This development will transform the way drivers from Surat to Bardoli navigate the area. Instead of entering the highway, they will now use the underpass located 500 meters before the Kadodara crossing. This change is anticipated to resolve the recurring traffic jams on the route from the Surat-Bardoli road to the Kadodara four-lane highway, and significantly reduce congestion at the intersection. The era of gridlocks due to vehicles pouring in from all directions at the junction is set to end with the opening of the underpass.