Demolition of 20-Foot Pillar on ₹1,295-Crore Narol-Sarkhej Highway Project Sparks Quality and Mismanagement Concerns

Questions surrounding alignment and project oversight have erupted over the construction of the Rs 1,295-crore elevated corridor on the Narol-Sarkhej highway in Ahmedabad after a freshly cast pillar measuring 15 to 20 feet was torn down using heavy machinery.

A video circulating on social media showed workers demolishing the completed concrete structure. On-site workers acknowledged that the pillar went off-alignment ("out") during casting, making its removal and reconstruction necessary. One worker indicated that the expenses incurred for the demolition and re-casting would be borne by the government.

Alignment Failures Raise Inspection Doubts

The incident has triggered sharp scrutiny over testing and engineering supervision along the 10.63-km corridor. Observers and local residents are questioning how a structure was permitted to reach a height of nearly 20 feet before technicians noticed alignment errors, raising concerns about pre-casting design checks and ongoing measurement protocols.

The Central Government project record sets the targeted completion date for the six-lane upgrade and elevated section as February 15, 2028. However, execution flaws on the ground are impacting adjacent neighborhoods:

• Damaged Drainage Infrastructure: Excavation for bridge pillars and structural foundations has repeatedly broken underground drainage pipes, disrupting local sewage disposal.
• Elevated Road Levels and Flooding: Raising the main highway height has placed adjacent residential societies at a lower elevation, resulting in rainwater entering homes and flooding neighborhoods during heavy monsoon spells.
• Persistent Traffic Bottlenecks: Potholes and ongoing construction work previously caused severe vehicular congestion along the Narol-Sarkhej stretch in September 2026.

Opposition Calls Out Negligence As Officials Avoid Queries

Gujarat Congress General Secretary Rajesh Soni hit out at the project management, questioning the whereabouts of site engineers while the faulty pillar was being erected. Soni alleged that negligence and potential corruption among authorities are undermining execution quality under the guise of infrastructure development.

Efforts to reach National Highways Authority officials Hardik Shah and D.R. Mistry for clarification yielded no response, as calls and messages sent to both officers went unanswered.