A major infrastructure milestone is set to be achieved in Ahmedabad with the scheduled inauguration of a new ₹117-crore flyover at Pallav Char Rasta on May 18.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, who represents the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, will unveil the structure that is expected to ease vehicular congestion for nearly 1.5 lakh daily commuters navigating through the city’s busy Naranpura zone. The flyover, constructed across the 132-feet Ring Road, extends 935 metres in length and spans 8.4 metres in width. It reaches a height of 5.37 metres at the Pragatinagar junction and features 62 structural spans designed to allow uninterrupted traffic flow over one of Ahmedabad’s key arterial corridors. Built under the oversight of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the project seeks to enhance transport efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in a city grappling with rapid urban growth and motorisation.
This addition comes at a time when Ahmedabad’s urban landscape is evolving swiftly in response to rising population density and private vehicle ownership. The city currently houses approximately 81 flyovers, railway overbridges, and river bridges, with several more under construction across strategic locations including Vadaj, Naroda Patiya, Makarba, Bootbhawani, and the same Pallav Char Rasta corridor. Urban planners and civic officials regard the new flyover as more than just a civil engineering feat. The project is embedded within a broader push towards improving Ahmedabad’s road infrastructure while preparing the city for a more sustainable and efficient transport network. In alignment with this vision, the AMC has committed to constructing an additional 25 flyovers in the near future to respond to the mounting pressure on city roads.
The flyover network expansion is also intended to support modal integration, paving the way for multi-level traffic segregation and possibly improved access to future electric vehicle corridors and non-motorised transport routes. Officials involved in the planning process assert that each new structure is being designed to be climate-resilient and compliant with sustainable construction norms where possible. Notably, this newly inaugurated flyover follows closely on the heels of another key transport corridor development — the 4.2 km elevated stretch along the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar (SG) Road. Completed at a cost of ₹170 crore, that corridor connects the Gota and Science City flyovers, dramatically reducing congestion along the high-traffic SG Highway and setting a precedent for Ahmedabad’s flyover planning model.
The flyover inauguration also underscores the long-term vision of urban authorities to decentralise vehicular movement from congested core areas of the city. Experts point out that such infrastructural additions are critical to preventing future gridlocks, especially as Ahmedabad prepares itself to compete with Tier-I cities in terms of liveability, resilience, and economic productivity. Additionally, work is progressing to upgrade the Sardar Patel Ring Road, a 76-kilometre orbital stretch encircling Ahmedabad, under the stewardship of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). The ring road is being transformed into a six-lane highway, and AUDA plans to install 34 flyovers and underpasses on the corridor — up from the current count of 16 bridges, including two spanning river bodies.
The strategic importance of these flyovers also ties into Gujarat’s broader ambitions for urban modernisation. Officials claim that road elevation projects are instrumental not only in reducing urban air pollution caused by idling vehicles in traffic jams, but also in preparing cities for more sophisticated, clean transportation modes. These include Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) expansions, metro corridors, and electric public transport. However, urban policy experts caution that while flyovers offer short-term relief, they must be integrated with a comprehensive urban mobility framework to avoid the pitfalls of car-centric planning. Suggestions include augmenting public transport infrastructure, preserving pedestrian pathways, investing in last-mile connectivity, and adopting nature-based solutions that prevent heat island effects caused by excessive concretisation.
Environmentalists have also pointed out the need for construction practices that minimise carbon footprints, including the use of low-emission materials, efficient waste management at sites, and green landscaping of elevated corridors. While AMC and AUDA have been proactive in responding to these suggestions, there remains scope for more public dialogue on the sustainability quotient of such projects. As the city gets ready for the formal launch on Sunday, the flyover stands as a symbolic and physical representation of Ahmedabad’s urban evolution — a balancing act between accommodating future mobility needs and ensuring that development remains people-centric and environmentally conscious.
The presence of senior leadership, including Amit Shah, at the unveiling ceremony reflects the importance accorded to infrastructure-led development at the national level. It is also seen as a reiteration of commitment towards enhancing urban liveability in Gujarat’s largest city. For residents of Naranpura and surrounding areas, the new flyover may offer immediate and tangible relief from the persistent traffic snarls that have plagued the stretch for years. For the rest of Ahmedabad, it could be a glimpse into the city’s broader journey towards becoming a smart, sustainable, and seamlessly connected metropolis.
