Gujarat Confidential: Bridge bugbear

After “structural deficiencies” were flagged on bridges such as the Subhash and Income Tax flyovers in Ahmedabad over the past few weeks, the latest in the spotlight is one of the frequently used bridges by VVIPs that connects Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar from the Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport side – Indira Bridge.

Reacting to media reports about “cracks” found on the bridge, the authorities on Sunday denied the claims, saying that the bridge is completely safe for traffic. After a joint on-site inspection by the Executive Engineer of Capital Planning Division 3 and the Deputy Executive Engineer of Sub-Division 18, the authorities asserted that these are not structural cracks.

“In fact, what is being called a crack is not a structural defect but an ‘expansion joint’ placed between the two spans of the bridge, which is placed as per the rules of civil engineering to prevent expansion and contraction in the material due to seasonal changes in temperature.

This bridge is periodically inspected by the department and recently in a comprehensive technical audit conducted by ‘Infinite Consultant’, no damage was found in the main structure of the bridge. So this bridge is completely safe for vehicular traffic and the public should use it without any fear and stay away from such baseless rumours,” the statement said.