A newly constructed flyover at Budia-Gabheni Chowkdi on the Hazira-Dhulia National Highway has been officially opened to traffic.
Built at an investment of ₹40 crore, the infrastructure project is set to streamline daily movement for more than 50,000 vehicles that traverse the corridor connecting Hazira, Sachin GIDC, Palsana, and several adjoining industrial hubs. Located at the nerve centre of Surat’s rapidly growing industrial sprawl, the Budia-Gabheni corridor is a critical passage for employees and cargo vehicles servicing large manufacturing clusters, including the Adani Hazira Port, Reliance Industries, AMNS India, the Diamond Bourse, and the Special Economic Zone. With the inauguration of this elevated roadway, city authorities hope to bring lasting relief to logistics operators and workers who have long grappled with persistent traffic snarls and safety risks.
Prior to the construction of the flyover, Budia-Gabheni Chowkdi had been classified as an accident-prone stretch, largely due to high volumes of heavy vehicular traffic. Temporary fixes such as speed breakers had little long-term effect, instead contributing to bottlenecks during peak hours. The lack of long-term planning and traffic engineering had frustrated locals, who organised multiple protests to draw attention to the rising number of accidents in the area. Recognising the criticality of the issue, urban planners and engineers were tasked with designing a solution that not only reduced congestion but also improved road safety and traffic efficiency. The resulting flyover project—delivered on schedule and budget—is now being celebrated as a model of responsive infrastructure planning that blends public need with industrial imperatives.
The flyover’s completion is also being seen as a significant milestone in Surat’s broader transport modernisation push. According to senior state officials, multiple infrastructure upgrades are in the pipeline to ease mobility across key transit zones. Plans are already in motion to develop flyovers at the Abhawa and Khajod intersections, projected to cost ₹93 crore, with work expected to begin after the monsoon. Furthermore, a ₹152 crore flyover project near Kawas Patiya, close to the main gate of Reliance Industries, has also received approval. These infrastructure interventions are designed to create seamless connectivity within industrial Surat, reduce travel time, and support sustainable economic growth by easing the flow of goods and people.
However, urban development experts caution that physical infrastructure alone will not suffice unless it is aligned with principles of sustainable mobility. The industrial zones serviced by the new flyover are significant contributors to local emissions and traffic-related environmental degradation. Experts are advocating for the integration of clean mobility alternatives, including electric freight transport and improved public transit linkages, to complement these developments. Environmentalists and urban researchers have also called for an ecological impact assessment of such projects, especially in areas bordering sensitive natural zones. While the flyover will reduce surface-level congestion, concerns remain regarding the cumulative impact of expanded road networks on air quality and heat generation in urban zones already struggling with environmental stress.
Nonetheless, the flyover at Budia-Gabheni Chowkdi represents a notable response to long-standing civic demands. It signals a commitment to improving industrial connectivity and enhancing commuter safety in Surat, a city fast emerging as a key node in India’s manufacturing and export economy. Whether these projects result in a long-term shift toward equitable and green urban mobility will depend on the state’s willingness to embed sustainability into its next phase of infrastructure development.
Surat Opens Rs 40 Crore Flyover to Alleviate Traffic on Key Highway
