The bridge connecting Karnavati to the Sarkhej-Sanand intersection on Ahmedabad’s SG Highway could be opened temporarily to traffic before Diwali, but the reported plan has not yet received firm public confirmation from senior authorities. Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad reported on November 3 that preparations were under way for opening the bridge by November 6 to ease festive-season traffic.
According to the report, a recent meeting of National Highway officials discussed temporarily allowing vehicles to use the completed bridge before Diwali. The stated objective was to reduce congestion on SG Highway during a period when movement typically increases as residents travel for shopping, visits and celebrations. The report said National Highway officials had also coordinated with traffic police and that preparations had been initiated.
The proposed opening is described as a temporary traffic arrangement rather than a confirmed formal inauguration. The report said Ahmedabad bridges are generally inaugurated by senior political leaders, including the Union Home Minister or the Chief Minister, while a temporary opening could allow traffic to begin using the structure without a ceremonial event. It also said that senior officials had not yet received definite information on whether the bridge would be opened in this manner or formally inaugurated.
The uncertainty matters because the bridge’s immediate public value depends not only on its physical completion but also on traffic-safety clearance, operational coordination and a final administrative decision. The supplied report does not provide the bridge’s project cost, construction agency, design capacity, traffic estimates or a formal opening order. It also does not establish whether all required inspections and approvals have been completed.
A separate utility issue has influenced the reported timing. A water pipeline located below the bridge near the Prahladnagar crossroads is due to be replaced after Diwali, according to the report. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and National Highway officials reportedly discussed postponing the work because carrying it out before the festival could require a shutdown lasting up to 48 hours, potentially affecting water supplies to homes and storage tanks.
The report said the pipeline replacement is not expected to require closure of the bridge. The existing line would reportedly be abandoned rather than removed, while a new pipeline would be installed through an excavation between two spans and connected to the network. Traffic on the road below could be managed through a diversion during the work, with officials expecting lower traffic volumes after Diwali.
For commuters, the bridge could provide relief on one of Ahmedabad’s busiest corridors during the festive period if the proposed temporary opening is approved. However, the central decision remains unresolved in the supplied material. Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad reported that project information was being sought from higher authorities and that any decision on opening the bridge could be announced suddenly. An official confirmation of the opening date, operating conditions and traffic arrangements remains necessary before commuters can rely on the route.
