Ahmedabad's Traffic Crisis Deepens Despite Decades of Bridge Building
Traffic congestion continues to plague the daily lives of Amdavadis, fueling widespread frustration and anger, even as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has embarked on an intensive two-decade campaign to construct flyovers, railway overbridges, underpasses, and culverts. Between 2010 and 2026 alone, the city saw the completion of 46 such structures specifically designed to alleviate road congestion. However, these efforts have proven largely ineffective, with traffic jams persisting stubbornly across the metropolitan area.
A Century of Infrastructure Development
The history of bridge building in Ahmedabad is both extensive and storied. "When the corporation was established in 1950, Nehru Bridge over the Sabarmati River was already under construction, and it officially opened to the public in 1952," revealed an AMC source. "Ellis Bridge dates back to 1892. Between 1892 and 1949, several critical bridges were erected, including the Kalupur railway overbridge in 1915 and the Sardar Patel River Bridge in 1940."
In 1950, the Shahibaug underpass was constructed, marking a new phase. From 1950 to 2000, a total of 10 bridges and underpasses were built. The pace accelerated dramatically from 2000 to 2026, with 61 bridges, underpasses, and culverts completed. Notably, 46 of these were erected over the past 16 years. Additionally, five foot overbridges were installed, and the Mithakali underpass underwent reconstruction during this period.
Ongoing and Future Projects
"Currently, the corporation is actively working on more than 10 flyovers, river bridges, and railway overbridges across various parts of the city," another AMC source stated. "A new bridge parallel to the Chimanbhai Patel railway overbridge is being built. Flyovers are also under construction at Panchvati Junction and Panjrapole Junction. Furthermore, a barrage-cum-bridge is being constructed over the Sabarmati River."
Recent approvals include the restoration of Subhash Bridge and the construction of two-lane bridges on both sides of the river. "New bridges are under construction at key locations like Vadaj Junction and Naroda Patiya Junction," the source added.
Traffic Surveys and Expansion Challenges
Sources indicated that in a meeting on January 24, 2025, the Road and Building Committee approved a proposal to conduct a comprehensive traffic movement survey at 25 major junctions. This survey was carried out by the central government's agency, CSIR-CRR. "The survey revealed that Memco Junction had the worst traffic jams, followed by Victoria Garden Junction in Jamalpur and Shyamal Junction in the Satellite area," an AMC source explained.
"In 2025, the corporation planned to survey these problematic junctions and construct flyovers or underpasses accordingly. Traffic surveys are also being conducted at 10 junctions on SG Highway and SP Ring Road. Over the next decade, plans are in place to build flyovers or underpasses at 35 junctions," the sources elaborated.
The rapid expansion of Ahmedabad has significantly exacerbated traffic issues. "In 1981, Ahmedabad covered 98.1 square kilometers. The city expanded to 190.8 square kilometers in 1991, 464 square kilometers in 2011, and 480 square kilometers in 2021," the sources noted. This growth has led to a surge in population and vehicle numbers, intensifying congestion.
"When a bridge is built at one junction, traffic jams often increase at nearby junctions," the source pointed out. "Therefore, alternative solutions beyond bridges and underpasses need to be seriously considered to address the root causes of traffic congestion."
