The sudden closure of the Acharyashree Mahapragyaji Overbridge, located between Namaste Circle and Rajasthan Hospital, has caused major problems for Shahibaug residents, who are now stuck in long traffic jams.
According to a media report, the overbridge has been closed due to work on the bullet train corridor between Sabarmati and Vatva in Ahmedabad. Segment installation is going on near the bridge, and this work, which started on July 31, will continue non-stop until September 1, 2025.
To ease the traffic, Ahmedabad Police announced alternative routes for Shahibaug commuters:
For two-, three-, and four-wheelers:
- From Rajasthan Hospital to Namaste Circle:
Vehicles can go under the bridge, pass Shanidev Mandir, go through the Shahibaug underpass, and then past the old Police Commissioner’s office to reach Namaste Circle. - From Namaste Circle to Rajasthan Hospital:
Take the road past the old Police Commissioner’s office and Shahibaug underpass, go by Nagpal Hospital, take a U-turn at Sardar Patel Smarak, and then use the service road next to the bridge to reach the hospital.
For heavy vehicles:
- Heavy vehicles heading from Rajasthan Hospital to Namaste Circle should go under the bridge via the service road, turn left at the crossroad, go toward Mahakali Mandir Circle, then turn right onto the Babu Jagjivan Ram Railway Overbridge, and continue through Idgah Circle, Dariyapur Circle, and Delhi Darwaza.
Despite these arrangements, traffic was heavily affected on Thursday morning. Many people going to work were delayed. In the evening rush hour, it took 2 to 4 times longer than usual to reach home.
Normally, it takes only 5 to 7 minutes to travel from Shahibaug overbridge to Delhi Darwaza, but on Thursday, it took more than 45 minutes due to traffic near the underbridge.
Passengers traveling from Gandhinagar to other parts of Ahmedabad via Delhi Darwaza—by bus or private vehicles—faced delays. People commuting from Memco and Meghaninagar also got stuck in traffic, arriving at work nearly an hour late and experiencing the same trouble on their way home.