Barely weeks after the closure of the Subhash Bridge over the Sabarmati River, another crucial Ahmedabad infrastructure project has run into trouble. The Income Tax flyover on the bustling Ashram Road was partially barricaded on Tuesday for urgent repair work, casting a spotlight on the city's bridge maintenance and inspection protocols.
Defects Detected in Key Expansion Joint
According to officials from the Bridge Project Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the need for repair arose from defects observed in the finger-type expansion joint of the flyover. An inspection revealed that the bolts securing this joint had become loose, causing the joints to open. The flyover, which was opened to the public in 2019 at a cost of Rs 65.51 crore, is a vital artery for the city's traffic.
A department official clarified that the issue was confined to the expansion joint and did not indicate a broader structural fault. "This defect is limited only to the expansion joint and there is no fault in the structure," the official stated. The repair work involved fixing the finger-type expansion joint, replacing the loose bolts, and using epoxy and micro-concrete for restoration.
Repairs Under Guarantee, Traffic Maintained
Authorities emphasized that the entire repair was covered under the agreement's guarantee period. Consequently, the contractor, Ranjeet Buildcon Limited, undertook the repair work at its own expense. Deputy City Engineer (Roads and Bridges) for AMC, Jignesh Shah, assured the public that the flyover was never fully closed. "The Income Tax Flyover has not been closed and traffic on the bridge has been operating regularly throughout the period. The defect was not of a serious nature and was only minor maintenance-related work," Shah said, adding that the repairs were completed safely on Tuesday with traffic flow continuing.
Opposition Questions Inspection Report, Demands Action
The incident has sparked political controversy, with the opposition Congress party raising serious questions about a recent inspection report. Leader of Opposition in AMC, Shehzad Khan Pathan, pointed out that a private firm had submitted a report just five months ago declaring the flyover to be in "good condition."
"Why did the expansion joints of the Income Tax flyover open?" Pathan questioned. "It looks like during the inspection, the expansion joints of the bridge were not checked? Then how was the overall good condition report given?" He demanded the immediate blacklisting of the companies that had inspected the bridge, alleging potential malpractices.
This episode follows the closure of the Subhash Bridge on December 4 after damage was noticed in its superstructure. The AMC, in coordination with state government departments, has declared a comprehensive plan for its restoration, including constructing new two-lane bridges on both sides. The consecutive issues with major bridges have put the civic body's monitoring mechanisms under intense public and political scrutiny.
