If you’re looking to go from Vasna to Pirana or Narol, buckle up! Literally! 

With half of Shastri Bridge still shut after it was “closed for four months” in December 2023, the half that is open to traffic is straining at the seams.

Traffic crawls, occasionally grinding to a halt during peak hours (9–11 am and 7–9 pm) as six lanes of traffic squeeze into two. creating a massive bottleneck.

Potholes, uneven asphalt, crumbling parapets, loose pavement blocks, and a wobbling bridge make every crossing a game of Russian roulette. Beyond the immediate structural dangers, lie longer journeys, higher fuel bills, and increased stress for both drivers and traffic authorities.

As one commuter puts it, “The alternatives are way too long, and there is just as much traffic there, too. Every day, I get stuck on my commute both in the morning and the evening. Not only the bridge is operated on one side only, I also see heavy vehicles on it, which makes me anxious about bridge's structural integrity.”

As with most things, there is a workaround if you’re willing to go the extra mile, or—in this case—the 6 km from Pirana to Ambedkar Bridge. 

Taking the Ambedkar Bridge instead of the Shastri Bridge, is an improvement in terms of traffic, but it adds 3.5 km to the Pirana–Vishala Circle route. Without traffic, this is 15 minutes longer, and with traffic, 30 mins or more—leaving commuters between a rock and a hard place. 

For commercial drivers, especially those with heavy vehicles (technically banned), it’s even more complicated. 

“The bridge is in such a bad shape that it is unsafe for heavy vehicles,” a traffic brigade officer told Gujarat Samachar Digital. “But, for transport owners, every extra kilometre means extra expenditure on diesel. So they often insist that their drivers take this bridge, leading to arguments.” 

It isn’t just intra-city traffic, either. 

As part of NH 64, the road extending from Shastri Bridge also connects Narol and the Ahmedabad–Vadodara Express Highway.

Gujarat Samachar Digital can confirm that at least one GSRTC (Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation) bus did take the Shastri Bridge as we were talking to the traffic official. 

“Despite our warnings, they sometimes pass when we are between shifts,” the official admitted sheepishly.

It is unclear if the current closure—coming as it did in December—has anything to do with the ₹6 crore worth of repairs announced in June 2023, after a picture of the sorry state of the bridge made waves on social media. 

The bridge is also slated for an eight-lane makeover worth ₹1,295 crore, but with no end date announced, the public has been left to grapple with the consequences. 

“Traffic would move quicker if the road were better maintained,” quips the traffic officer. “Vehicles like loading tempos and three-wheelers have a hard time on uneven roads, and get stuck, causing traffic jams.” 

Ironically, a bridge named after a staunch socialist has become a stark reminder of the need for efficient urban planning and timely maintenance in rapidly growing cities.

Also read:

Ahmedabad to get iconic roads: Iskcon to Pakwan, Airport Circle to Ashram Road