The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has closed a dangerous opening in the road divider near the overbridge connecting Makarba and Corporate Road, following a report by Gujarat Samachar Digital. The opening, used by motorists as a shortcut to save around 200 metres, had created a risk of collisions between vehicles travelling at speed.
An AMC team was sent to the location late on October 29 after the report highlighted the condition of the divider. According to local residents cited by Gujarat Samachar Digital, the team filled the open section with reinforced cement concrete blocks, aggregate and cement, effectively sealing the cut.
The divider opening had reportedly been created by breaking or excavating part of the median. Its location near the overbridge allowed vehicles to cross the divider instead of travelling further towards the S.G. Highway and using the designated turning point. This reduced the distance for drivers but placed vehicles entering from opposite directions in conflict.
With the opening now closed, motorists travelling from Makarba towards Corporate Road and Prahladnagar will have to continue approximately 200 metres towards the S.G. Highway before taking a U-turn at the three-way junction. The revised movement adds a short detour but directs vehicles towards a designated turning location rather than allowing them to cross through the divider.
The report said the earlier opening had raised concerns because vehicles were approaching the section at speed, increasing the possibility of an accident. The road-safety issue was particularly linked to the informal shortcut’s location and the absence of controlled movement through the median.
Local residents expressed relief after the municipal intervention and welcomed the quick action taken after the report was published. The closure also shows how an unauthorised or unsafe change in a road median can alter traffic behaviour and create a safety risk even when it appears to offer a minor time-saving route.
The AMC has closed the cut with RCC blocks and cement and redirected motorists to the U-turn located further ahead. The report did not provide details of any additional traffic management measures or identify the person or group responsible for creating the opening.
