Ahmedabad : Paldi Underpass Shuts Down Just a Day After Inauguration Due to Design Issues

Ahmedabad : The newly built Shri Dhirubhai Swarupchand Shah-Paldi Underpass, inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday, was shut down within 24 hours due to alleged negligence by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

The underpass, constructed at a cost of ₹83 crore, was designed to ease traffic congestion in the Paldi area. However, traffic flow issues were observed immediately after its opening, prompting authorities to close it down on Tuesday.

The closure highlights concerns about the AMC’s planning and execution of the project. The underpass design allegedly led to traffic congestion at the exits towards Paldi. Officials are now scrambling to redesign the approach and exit points to avoid similar issues in the future.

“There are four exits from the underpass towards Paldi, where the design is being changed to accommodate future traffic flow,” said a senior AMC official. This redesign will require an additional 15 days to complete, causing further inconvenience to residents.

While the AMC acknowledges the need for redesigning the exits, the responsibility for the underpass closure remains unclear. Metro Rail Project officials claim their work on the underpass is complete, and any further construction, like the asphalt road within the underpass, is not under their purview.

This conflicting information further adds to the confusion surrounding the project’s management and raises questions about the communication breakdown between various agencies involved.

The sudden closure of the underpass has disrupted traffic flow and caused inconvenience to commuters. With a revised design and additional construction time, residents will now have to wait for at least 15 days before the underpass becomes fully functional again.

This incident raises serious concerns about the planning and execution of infrastructure projects in Ahmedabad. It is crucial for authorities to take responsibility, address communication gaps, and prioritize the needs of the citizens by ensuring the timely and efficient completion of infrastructure projects.