Surat: The Union Government on Tuesday acknowledged the severe deterioration of the National Highway 48 stretch between Vapi and Surat in Gujarat. In response to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, informed that major maintenance and periodic renewal works for a 58-km stretch have been provisioned and will begin immediately after the monsoon.

“Surat-Vapi stretch of NH-48 is maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) through a maintenance contract. Major maintenance and periodic renewal for the 58 km length has been provisioned under the maintenance contract and shall be taken up immediately after the monsoon,” the minister’s reply stated.

The reply further stated, “This section of NH-48 lies in a high rainfall intensity region of Gujarat and carries traffic volume of over 1.5 lakh Passenger Car Units (PCU), which makes it more susceptible to surface defects during the monsoon season. During recent heavy and prolonged rainfall, surface distresses have been observed in certain sections. Regular maintenance is being actively undertaken by NHAI to maintain the highway in a traffic-worthy condition. Further, based on site requirements, additional works such as reconstruction of bridges, construction of new Vehicular Underpasses / Light Vehicular Underpasses (VUPs / LVUPs) / flyovers, and provision of service roads have already been sanctioned, and execution of these works is in progress.” DeshGujarat