Three Spans of Ahmedabad’s Old Subhash Bridge Safely Demolished
Ahmedabad |
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Wednesday successfully completed the controlled demolition of three spans of the old Subhash Bridge over the Sabarmati River, marking a significant step in the removal of the ageing structure ahead of its reconstruction.
According to the AMC, the three spans located above the riverbed were carefully dismantled and lowered in a controlled manner without any injuries, damage to machinery, or impact on the surrounding area.
The demolition was carried out by the appointed contractor under the supervision of structural experts, with continuous monitoring throughout the operation. The civic body said all prescribed safety protocols were strictly followed to ensure the work was completed without any untoward incident.
To ensure public safety, the entire bridge area was barricaded and declared a restricted zone during the demolition, prohibiting public access.
With the successful removal of these three spans, the AMC said the remaining portions of the bridge will be demolished in phases as per the approved plan while maintaining stringent safety measures. Debris clearance work has also commenced.
The decision to dismantle the bridge was taken after comprehensive structural assessments by experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) at Roorkee and Gandhinagar, along with bridge engineering specialist Mahesh Tandon and other technical experts. The panel unanimously recommended complete demolition and reconstruction, concluding that building a new bridge would be a safer and more durable long-term solution than repairing the existing structure.
Constructed in 1973, the Subhash Bridge has served as a vital connection between Subhash Circle and Shahibaug across the Sabarmati River for more than five decades. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in December 2025 after engineers detected structural settlement and cracks. Subsequent investigations revealed extensive deterioration, prompting the AMC to abandon restoration plans in favour of complete reconstruction.
