Civic body report flags defects: Income Tax flyover on key Ahmedabad road closed for repair work

According to the Bridge Project Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), “defects in the structure of the bridge were seen in the finger type expansion joint.”

BARELY WEEKS after the closure of Subhash Bridge over the Sabarmati River due to structural damage, the Income Tax flyover on Ashram Road – one of the busiest and main roads of the city – was partly barricaded on Tuesday for repair work. This bridge was opened to the public in 2019.

“During an inspection, it was observed that the bolts of the finger type expansion joint had become loose, leading to the opening of the joints. This defect is limited only to the expansion joint and there is no fault in the structure,” an official with the department said on Tuesday.

On December 4, the Bridge Project Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation closed the Subhash bridge after damage in the superstructure was noticed. After a complete technical assessment of the bridge’s safety, AMC, in coordination with the Roads and Building department of the state government and empanelled structural design consultants had declared its comprehensive plan for the restoration of Subhash Bridge over the Sabarmati River, along with the construction of new two-lane bridges on both sides of the existing bridge.

“The repair work of finger type expansion joint, replacement of loose bolt and the work of repairing the expansion joint using epoxy and micro concrete was undertaken. Since the entire repair work is covered under the guarantee period of the agreement, the contractor-Ranjeet Buildcon Limited-has undertaken the repair work under its own responsibility and at its own expense,” the AMC authorities said.

“The Income Tax Flyover has not been closed and traffic on the bridge has been operating regularly throughout the (repair) period. The defect found in the expansion joint was not of a serious nature and was only a minor maintenance-related repair work. The said repair work has been completed safely today with traffic continuing,” deputy city engineer (roads and bridges) AMC Jignesh Shah told this paper.

However, the opposition has questioned the BJP-ruled AMC on an overall good condition report of the Income Tax flyover after an inspection nearly five months ago and demanded action against the company that submitted the report.

“Why did the expansion joints of the Income tax flyover built at a total cost of Rs 65.51 crore 6 years ago open? Malpractices and corruption were exposed in the work of Haatkeshwar Bridge built in Ahmedabad city, which led to inspection of 69 bridges in Ahmedabad by two companies. The Income Tax flyover was built at a cost of Rs 65.51 crore six years ago. A report by a private firm submitted five months ago on the condition of Income Tax flyover bridge claims that it is in “good condition”. It looks like during inspection, the expansion joints of the bridge were not checked? Then how was the overall good condition report given? The Congress party demands immediate blacklisting of the companies that had inspected the bridge,” Leader of Opposition in AMC Shehzad Khan Pathan said.