Last week, during my visit to Surat, we visited a Jain temple in Miyaganj Karjan, about 100 kms. from Surat. We went by train – the journey took 1 hour 45 mins. On our return, we decided to take the bus since the next train meant waiting for 2 hours. In the end, it didn’t make much of a difference! Due to the construction going on (widening of NH8 to 6 lanes from 4), it took us 3 hours 15 mins to traverse the 100 km.
There was plenty of traffic, but the road itself posed a big challenge for the driver – zig-zagging in and out of the construction patches. We also saw more than a handful of accidents en route. I am sure there is a better way to enhance the road travel experience even as the construction is on. And all this on Nh8 — one of India’s premier national highways.
