Ahmedabad’s long-awaited elevated corridor on SG Highway is facing another extension before motorists can use the full route, keeping a key western gateway under construction during another peak travel period. The project is designed to separate through traffic from junction movements between the ISKCON and Sanand sides of the corridor, potentially reducing delays for commuters, freight operators and businesses moving towards Saurashtra.
The approximately 4.1-km elevated structure has been planned around three major junctions — Karnavati Club, Prahladnagar and YMCA — where ramps will connect local traffic with the elevated route. Earlier schedules had targeted an opening much sooner, but the YMCA–Karnavati section has remained subject to traffic diversions as construction and ramp work continued. A previous extension had already kept the affected stretch closed until the end of May, while a July update said the overall completion deadline had moved to September 30. The latest delay matters because the disruption has been felt below the project as much as the benefits are expected above it. Motorists using the closed section have had to take longer diversion routes, adding journey time, fuel consumption and pressure to surrounding roads. Public reporting in July indicated that around 1.5 lakh motorists were being affected by the diversion each day.
Once operational, the SG Highway elevated corridor should allow longer-distance traffic to bypass several signalised junctions. Vehicles travelling between Gandhinagar and Sanand, and onward towards Rajkot and other Saurashtra destinations, are expected to gain the most from uninterrupted movement. Local drivers will still depend on the planned ramps to enter or leave the main corridor. The project uses a single-pier structural arrangement, with the elevated deck supported from a relatively narrow central footprint. Earlier project reporting put the corridor at about six lanes and estimated its capacity at roughly 1.5–2 lakh vehicles a day. The design is intended to preserve road space at ground level while carrying through traffic above it.
But faster vehicle movement alone will not resolve every mobility problem on SG Highway. The corridor serves large residential, commercial and employment districts, where pedestrian access, public transport, service roads and junction safety remain critical. A traffic system that simply moves congestion to the next intersection can deliver limited long-term value. There is also a wider environmental calculation. If the SG Highway elevated corridor reduces idling and stop-start traffic, it could lower fuel use and local vehicle emissions. That benefit, however, depends on preventing induced traffic from quickly filling the additional road capacity. For Ahmedabad, the immediate priority is completing the remaining works safely and restoring disrupted ground-level connections. The longer test will be whether this major road investment is integrated with public transport, walking infrastructure and better junction management, rather than becoming another standalone answer to a growing dependence on private vehicles.
Also Read: Gurugram Waterlogging Exposes Gaps in Pond Management
Ahmedabad SG Highway corridor faces fresh delay
