Gujarat clears Rs 1,700-crore Mahi bridge-cum-barrage project

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat govt on Thursday granted in-principle approval for a Rs 1,700-crore bridge-cum-barrage project across the Mahi river at Badalpur near Dhuvaran in Anand district, a move expected to boost water security, agriculture and connectivity in central and south Gujarat.The state govt said survey work for the ambitious project will begin shortly. Officials said the proposed structure will serve the dual purpose of regulating river water and improving transport links, creating a strategic corridor between the Charotar region and Bharuch.According to an official statement, the project is expected to emerge as a major development catalyst by integrating water management with transportation infrastructure.

It is also likely to facilitate faster movement of goods between the Dahej Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) and the Khambhat-Tarapur industrial belt.The govt said the proposed barrage will be built within the 4.5-km-wide Mahi riverbed, with a bridge structure spanning about 2 km. Quoting executive engineer of the Anand irrigation department, Rajat Chaudhary, the statement said around 70 gates are planned to regulate river flow and maximise storage of freshwater that currently drains into the sea during the monsoon.

Protective embankments will be constructed along the remaining stretch of the riverbed.Officials said the project will incorporate flood-management features and a robust crossway system to ensure uninterrupted traffic movement and safe water storage even during heavy rainfall and flood conditions.Once completed, the barrage is expected to store nearly 183 million cubic metres of freshwater annually. The govt said the additional storage capacity will help conserve water resources that are presently lost to the sea and reduce dependence on the Kadana dam for drinking water supply in several parts of the state.The state govt said the project is expected to deliver long-term benefits for farmers, industries and urban centres by strengthening water availability and improving regional connectivity.