The 35-kilometre dam project named Alignment
would lead to a sweet water reservoir. Besides, it will also have a
road and rail overbridge, which will reduce the distance between
Bhavnagar and Surat by 200 kilometre.
While, the main dam help generate tidal power, the reservoir is expected to supply water for drinking and agricultural purposes.
“The project envisages dam and road and
rail overbridge from just north of Bhavnagar in the west coast of Gulf
of Cambay to Alandar in Dahej in the east coast. Though final cost is to
be worked out in detail, it will be over Rs 50,000 crore,” a senior
state government official said.
The timeframe will be decided once the environmental and other clearances come. The Gujarat government has already set up a dedicated department for the project — the Kalpasar department.
“Besides creating a fresh water
reservoir in the northern portion of the Gulf of Khambat, the road and
rail overbridge will reduce the distance from Bhavnagar and Surat to 150
kilometre from the existing 350 kilometre,”
