Subhash Bridge demolition: 3 spans razed in Ahmedabad on July 1
Synopsis
Ahmedabad's iconic Subhash Bridge, shut since December 2024 after cracks and structural settlement were detected, has begun coming down — three spans demolished in a single controlled operation on 1 July. Built in 1973 and once a vital north-central city link, the bridge will be fully razed and rebuilt after IIT experts ruled out repair as a viable option.
Key Takeaways
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) demolished three spans of the Subhash Bridge on 1 July 2025 in a controlled operation.
The bridge, built in 1973 , was closed to traffic in December 2024 after structural cracks and settlement were detected.
An expert panel from IIT Roorkee , IIT Gandhinagar , and bridge engineer Mahesh Tandon unanimously recommended full demolition over repair.
No injuries to workers or damage to machinery or the surrounding area were reported during the operation.
Debris removal has begun; remaining spans will be demolished in phases before a new bridge is constructed.
Three spans of Ahmedabad's century-old Subhash Bridge over the Sabarmati River were successfully brought down in a controlled demolition on Wednesday, 1 July, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) confirmed. The operation marks a significant step in the phased dismantling of the 1973-built structure, which is set to be replaced with an entirely new bridge.
How the demolition was carried out
The three spans targeted were those positioned directly above the riverbed. According to the AMC, the sections were dismantled with precision and lowered in a controlled manner by an appointed contractor working under the supervision of structural experts.
'The demolition of three spans located over the riverbed has been successfully and safely completed. The entire spans were dismantled with utmost care and lowered in a controlled manner. No untoward incident occurred during the operation, and complete safety was maintained for the workers, machinery and the surrounding area,' the AMC said in an official statement.
Continuous monitoring was maintained throughout, and the entire bridge area was barricaded and declared a restricted zone, with public access prohibited during the operation.
Expert panel behind the demolition decision
The decision to demolish the bridge rather than repair it followed detailed structural assessments by a high-level expert panel that included engineers from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) at Roorkee and Gandhinagar, as well as noted bridge engineer Mahesh Tandon and other technical specialists.
The panel unanimously concluded that complete removal and fresh construction would offer a safer and more durable long-term solution than retaining any part of the existing structure. Restoration plans were formally abandoned after further assessments revealed significant deterioration across the bridge.
Background: Why Subhash Bridge was shut
Built in 1973, the more than five-decade-old Subhash Bridge connects the Subhash Circle area with Shahibaug, serving as a critical link between northern and central Ahmedabad. The bridge was closed to traffic in December 2024 after engineers detected structural settlement and cracks, triggering extensive technical investigations.
Notably, this is not the first time an ageing urban bridge in India has required emergency closure and demolition — a pattern that underscores the broader challenge of maintaining infrastructure built in the 1960s and 1970s now well past its design life.
What happens next
The AMC confirmed that debris removal has already commenced. The remaining spans will be brought down in phases in accordance with the approved demolition plan, with all prescribed safety measures strictly maintained at each stage. A new bridge is to be constructed in place of the old structure once demolition is complete.
Point of View
But it points to a systemic issue: India's urban bridges, many built in the 1960s and 70s, are ageing out simultaneously, and civic bodies are repeatedly caught between costly retrofits and full rebuilds. The AMC deserves credit for commissioning credible IIT-led assessments rather than patching a structurally compromised structure — but the fact that a key north-central Ahmedabad artery has been severed since December 2024 also raises questions about how long replacement timelines will stretch. The pace of the phased demolition and the speed of new construction will be the real test of municipal execution capacity.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Subhash Bridge in Ahmedabad demolished?
The Subhash Bridge was demolished because structural assessments revealed significant cracks, settlement, and deterioration that made repair unfeasible. An expert panel from IIT Roorkee, IIT Gandhinagar, and bridge engineer Mahesh Tandon unanimously recommended full demolition and reconstruction as the safer long-term solution.
When was Subhash Bridge closed to traffic?
The bridge was closed to traffic in December 2024 after engineers detected structural settlement and cracks. Subsequent investigations led authorities to abandon restoration plans in favour of complete demolition.
How old is the Subhash Bridge in Ahmedabad?
The Subhash Bridge was built in 1973, making it over five decades old at the time of demolition. It connected the Subhash Circle area with Shahibaug, serving as a key link between northern and central Ahmedabad.
Was the demolition of Subhash Bridge safe?
Yes, according to the AMC, the demolition of three spans on 1 July was completed without any injuries to workers or damage to machinery or the surrounding area. The bridge area was barricaded and declared a restricted zone throughout the operation.
What will replace the old Subhash Bridge?
A new bridge will be constructed over the Sabarmati River once the demolition of the existing structure is complete. The remaining spans are to be removed in phases as per the approved plan before reconstruction begins.
