Kalpasar Project Proposes Giant Freshwater Reservoir in Gulf of Khambhat

Key facts

• The Kalpasar Project proposes a major barrier across the Gulf of Khambhat to create a coastal freshwater reservoir.
• The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Kalpasar Project was at the finalisation stage as of December 31, 2025.
• Construction of the project is expected to take approximately eight years after receiving necessary approvals.
• The project cost is estimated at around ₹1.57 lakh crore.
• The proposed reservoir has a storage capacity of approximately 10 billion cubic metres.
• The project includes a 10-lane road link connecting Saurashtra and mainland Gujarat.
• The Gulf of Khambhat presents formidable engineering challenges due to powerful tidal movements and complex sediment transport.
• The project faces significant environmental challenges, including impacts on the estuary ecosystem and fisheries.
• Climate change introduces additional risks to the project, such as sea-level rise and increased cyclone intensity.
• Tidal power generation, initially a key component, has become less central to the current project configuration.
• The Gujarat government has explored technical cooperation with Dutch experts for the project.