The Government of India last week approved a road project in Gujarat entailing an expenditure of Rs 1,756 crore (US$258 million) under its National Highways Development Program (NHDP).

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for four/two-laning of the Gadu-Dwarka section of National Highway-8E in Gujarat under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT-Annuity) in Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) pattern," an official statement said.

The total length of the road will be about 209.89 km, out of which 119.7 km will be four-laned and 90.19 km will be two-laned with paved shoulders, it added.

This road stretch links a number of sea ports on the western coast of India, apart from coastal places like Dwarka, Porbandar and Somnath.

A preferred bidder should emerge during next weeks as this is the required step to award the project.