Ahmedabad: Makarba ROB delayed by 1.5 years, July completion likely

Ahmedabad: The construction of Rs 70.7 crore Makarba Railway Overbridge (ROB) began on Sept 30, 2022, and it was originally slated for completion by Nov 30, 2024. However, the deadline has now been exceeded by nearly one-and-a-half years, and the project remains incomplete, causing inconvenience to local residents.

An official from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), speaking on condition of anonymity, said there are several reasons for the delay in completing the overbridge. “During construction, a drainage line collapsed, which required time to be repaired. In addition, approval from the railway department for work over the railway track was also delayed,” he said. However, the official added that the bridge is now expected to be completed by July 2026, with plans to open it for public use by the end of that month.

The official further stated that the AMC’s engineering department, in coordination with railway authorities, has completed the launching of 12 steel composite girders for the overbridge. With this milestone achieved, the next phase of construction is expected to gather speed, significantly improving connectivity between western parts of Ahmedabad such as Makarba, Vejalpur Corporate Road, and the SG Highway area. Once operational, the bridge is expected to reduce daily traffic congestion on SG Highway and Vejalpur Corporate Road, ensuring smoother and faster commuting for citizens. The project is expected to directly benefit over one lakh residents. Currently, long wait times at the railway crossing result in frequent traffic snarls, a problem expected to ease considerably once the bridge becomes operational.

The estimated project cost for the Makarba Railway Overbridge was approved at Rs 87.25 crore, against which a tender worth Rs 70.7 crore was awarded. The bridge is being constructed over a 40-metre-wide road connecting Torrent Power Makarba to Corporate Road on SG Highway in Vejalpur, with a total length of 636.9 metres. The project includes construction of a four-lane railway overbridge with a carriageway width of 15.5 metres within an overall width of 16.4 metres.