Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has once again decided to issue a tender of Rs. 24.87 for dismantling and retrofitting the 8 span-slabs of the controversial Hatkeshwar flyover. The new tender includes a provision for a 10-year defect liability (warranty) after the completion of the bridge.

The tender specifies a completion time of 18 months for the project. Earlier, the civic body had issued a tender, but as no company applied for it, a new tender has been issued.

Hatkeshwar Bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs. 50.88 crores and was opened to the public in November 2017. However, on four separate occasions since April 2021, it experienced significant gaps and cracks, with the cement-concrete surface detaching at multiple locations. After being closed for commuting for a long time, it was decided to demolish 8 spans of the bridge and rebuild it after an investigation by the inquiry committee and the assessment of IIT-Roorkee, which found that inferior quality materials were used in its construction.

In the standing committee meeting in July, the civic body had passed a proposal to blacklist Ajay Engineering Infra, the contractor of the bridge, for 10 years and build the bridge at its expense. DeshGujarat