The Hatkeshwar Bridge, inaugurated in November 2017, was temporarily closed in March 2021 due to safety concerns. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has now issued a new tender for its reconstruction, which will cost Rs 52 crore.

Ahmedabad: The Hatkeshwar Bridge in Ahmedabad, originally built in 2017 at a cost of Rs 42 crore, is set to be rebuilt after it was deemed unsafe. Closed in March 2021 due to a pothole and further structural issues, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has now issued a tender for its reconstruction, which will cost Rs 52 crore. The amount will be recovered from Ajay Infra, the company that built the bridge initially. Despite multiple tenders, it took four attempts before a Rajasthan-based company agreed to handle the demolition and reconstruction, expected to take 18 months.

Opposition leader Shehzad Khan Pathan criticized the project as an engineering failure and highlighted concerns of corruption, questioning why the rebuilding cost only Rs 52 crore, while other new bridges in the city cost over Rs 100 crore. He called for the full cost of the project, totaling Rs 94 crore (including the initial construction), to be recovered from the contractor. Additionally, Congress leader Himmat Singh Patel raised concerns over the lack of investigation into those responsible for the initial construction’s failure.

The AMC, led by Devang Dani, is still evaluating the reconstruction costs, and the Gujarat government has confirmed that the cost will be recovered from the original contractor.

Key Points:

1. Original Construction: Hatkeshwar Bridge in Ahmedabad was built in 2017 at a cost of Rs 42 crore.
2. Temporary Closure: The bridge was closed in March 2021 due to safety concerns and structural damage.
3. Reconstruction Plan: A tender for rebuilding the bridge has been issued by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), with an estimated cost of Rs 52 crore.
4. Cost Recovery: The reconstruction cost will be recovered from the original contractor, Ajay Infra, which built the bridge.
5. Tender Process: After three failed tender attempts, a Rajasthan-based company agreed to handle the demolition and reconstruction, expected to take 18 months.
6. Opposition Criticism: Shehzad Khan Pathan and Congress leaders have criticized the handling of the project, calling for accountability and questioning the lower cost of reconstruction compared to new bridges in the city.
7. Total Costs: The combined total cost of the bridge, including its initial construction and rebuilding, will amount to Rs 94 crore over five years.

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