Ahmedabad’s Hatkeshwar Bridge, built at a cost of ₹42 crore in 2017, is now set to be demolished merely eight years after its inauguration. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Standing Committee has approved a ₹3.90 crore tender for the demolition of the bridge, which has remained shut for traffic since 2022 due to safety concerns.According to a media report, the contract has been awarded to Shree Ganesh Construction Company, and demolition work is expected to begin after the monsoon season. The process is estimated to take six months. During this period, authorities plan to ensure minimal disruption to traffic in surrounding areas.Built by Ajay Infra Company, construction of the Hatkeshwar Bridge began in 2015 and it was inaugurated on 30 November 2017. However, structural issues began surfacing within a few years. In early 2021, the bridge had to be closed temporarily due to potholes, followed by multiple rounds of repairs. By August 2022, the bridge was declared unsafe for vehicular movement after a stability test revealed severe deterioration, particularly in six central spans.Despite several attempts to float tenders for its demolition over the past three years, no firm came forward to take on the task—delaying action and prompting frequent protests by residents and local shopkeepers demanding resolution.AMC Standing Committee Chairman Devang Dani confirmed the approval of the ₹3.90 crore tender and stated that while demolition is now certain, no decision has yet been made on constructing a new bridge in its place.
