To ease rising traffic congestion on the busy Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar Road corridor, authorities have proposed expanding the Narmada Canal bridge to 12 lanes.
The plan involves constructing two additional parallel bridges—each with two to three lanes—on either side of the existing six-lane structure. This is expected to significantly boost traffic capacity and improve movement between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, particularly towards Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The proposal comes amid growing traffic pressure on the stretch, which currently handles nearly 1.5 lakh vehicles ежедневно. The route also sees frequent VIP movement due to its airport connectivity, underscoring the need for infrastructure upgrades.
Officials said the under-construction six-lane cable-stayed bridge at Bhat Circle will directly connect to the Narmada bridge. With service roads on both sides, the corridor is expected to function as a 12-lane stretch, prompting the expansion plan for seamless traffic flow.
The Road Construction Department has estimated the project cost at Rs37.33 crore. Under the proposal, the two parallel bridges will each be around 1,000 metres long and 15 metres wide, built alongside the existing structure.
Authorities clarified that while the new cable-stayed bridge will integrate with the Narmada bridge, the proposed parallel bridges will operate independently, with traffic segregated by direction to ensure smoother movement.
To enable construction within the canal, a specialised pontoon method will be used, involving floating platforms to support heavy-duty piling and provide a strong foundation for the bridges.