Gujarat: Five more spans of Ahmedabad's Subhash Bridge demolished safely
Ahmedabad, July 5
Another significant phase in the dismantling of Subhash Bridge in Ahmedabad has been completed, with five additional spans on the river side and the Shahibaug side of the bridge being safely demolished as part of the ongoing exercise as per the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
According to the corporation, the demolition work was carried out by the contractor under the continuous supervision of experts to ensure the operation was executed in a planned and secure manner.
The constant monitoring was maintained throughout the demolition process, while all prescribed safety standards and protocols were strictly adhered to during the operation.
The latest phase marks further progress in the ongoing dismantling of the bridge, with the demolition of five spans completed without any reported safety-related issues.
The operation was closely overseen by experts at the site, with continuous monitoring undertaken to ensure compliance with established safety procedures during every stage of the work.
Constructed in 1973, the 453-metre-long structure was urgently closed on December 4, 2025, after significant settlement was detected near Pillar No 9. Following extensive inspections by experts from SVNIT, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Bombay, revealing serious cracks within the pillars, the authorities rolled back from an initial Rs 236-crore repair plan to a complete teardown of the 1973 bridge.
The Gujarat State government initially approved a Rs 236-crore project to restore the bridge and construct two parallel two-lane structures.
The first phase of the dismantling of the old Subhash Bridge in Ahmedabad took place on July 1. On that day, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) successfully and safely dismantled three dilapidated spans of the 53-year-old structure into the Sabarmati riverbed under controlled engineering supervision.
The city is aiming to move forward with more planned and modern replacements.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Watching old infrastructure go is bittersweet. Subhash Bridge was a landmark for Ahmedabad! But safety first—those cracks could've been deadly. I appreciate the expert supervision from SVNIT and IITs. However, I hope the new design includes pedestrian and cyclist paths too. Modern needs, yaar!
Finally some action! I live near Shahibaug and the traffic diversion has been a nightmare. They spent crores on repair plans initially, then changed to demolition—sounds like lack of planning initially. But better late than never, I guess. Hope the new bridge is wider and stronger. 💪
Interesting approach—controlled demolition into the riverbed. I've seen similar work in the US, but it's impressive they're doing it with such precision. The Rs 236-crore plan change shows they're adapting to engineering realities. Kudos to the AMC for prioritizing safety over saving face.
I remember crossing this bridge every day for college in 2015. It had so much character. 😢 But the cracks near Pillar No 9 were scary—SVNIT report was clear. My only concern: will the debris in the river cause environmental issues? Hope they clean up properly. Otherwise, good riddance!
Great engineering execution! 5 spans in one go without any safety issues is commendable. The contractor team deserves appreciation. But yaar, why did the government waste Rs 236 crore on a repair plan that failed? That money could've been used for new infrastructure. Need better audits upfront.
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