Ahmedabad: The Hatkeshwar flyover, which was built in 2017 at a cost of Rs 37 crore and was shut down in 2022 after it was found to be unsafe, will now be demolished at an estimated cost of Rs 9.31 crore. After over three years and multiple tenders for the demolition and reconstruction of the bridge, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has finally issued a new demolition tender, opting to dismantle the structure from the pile cap bottom level.

The project faced prolonged delays due to internal disagreements within the civic body and complications involving the original contractor, Ajay Engi-Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. It is learnt that earlier tenders saw no bidders, while one bid of Rs 118 crore—over twice the estimated cost—was rejected. The original contractor, now blacklisted, had also pushed to be reassigned the work, stalling the process further. Ultimately, AMC narrowed the current tender’s scope to demolition only.

The infamous Hatkeshwar flyover in Khokhra, opened in 2017 with a one-year defect liability, began showing structural flaws by 2021. Lab tests, including those by IIT Roorkee and SVNIT Surat, confirmed poor construction with low cement content, incorrect water-cement ratios, and carbonation in concrete. The AMC suspended four officials, launched departmental inquiries against four more, and blacklisted both the contractor and the project management firm, SGS India Pvt Ltd. An FIR was filed under charges of criminal conspiracy and fraud.

Meanwhile, the decision has sparked criticism from the Opposition, which has raised questions about the future of the Hatkeshwar flyover and whether any reconstruction plans are in place. Shehzad Khan Pathan, Leader of the Opposition in the AMC, noted that although a demolition tender has now been issued, the AMC has remained silent on any plans for rebuilding the structure. DeshGujarat