Closed for more than 1,500 days, Hatkeshwar bridge to be demolished by Mumbai firm

The Hatkeshwar bridge in Ahmedabad, built in 2017 at a cost of ₹40 crore by contractor Ajay Infracon, has remained shut for over 1500 days due to recurring structural issues.

Now, the demolition of this faulty bridge is likely to be handled by Mumbai-based Shree Ganesh Corporation that, which has emerged as the lowest bidder after quoting below the municipal tender estimate of ₹9.31 crore.

The bridge, which developed potholes within months of opening, was repeatedly closed for repairs, but issues persisted. The defect liability period for the bridge was only one year.

Panels from IIT Roorkee and two other institutions had recommended a complete demolition and reconstruction of the bridge, following which the municipal body floated tenders four times. In the last attempt, a Rajasthan-based company, Pungaliya, had offered to demolish and rebuild the bridge for ₹113 crore, but the tender was cancelled under political pressure.

The move to award the demolition contract to Shree Ganesh Corporation may finally clear the way for rebuilding the crucial Hatkeshwar bridge, which has been a long-standing inconvenience for commuters in the city.

The bridge was originally built at the cost of ₹40 crore, however, the sub-par quality of the concrete used in the construction meant that the bridge could not be used.