Ahmedabad: Food lovers in Ahmedabad can rejoice as the popular Manek Chowk night food market is set to reopen on Monday, April 7th, after being closed for a month. The closure was necessitated by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) undertaking crucial rehabilitation work on the 50-year-old drainage line in the area.

The vibrant street food hub, famous for its diverse offerings ranging from bhajipav and pizza to bhel, ice cream, and sandwiches, had been shut down since March 5th to facilitate the essential infrastructure upgrade. According to officials from the AMC’s drainage project department, the extensive work required continuous activity and the deployment of heavy machinery directly within the market area, making the temporary closure unavoidable. Local vendors cooperated with the authorities and voluntarily closed their businesses for the duration of the project.

With the rehabilitation work now complete, including the resurfacing of roads where excavation took place, the market is ready to welcome back its patrons. The reopening comes at an opportune time as Ahmedabad is preparing to host the national convention of the Congress party on April 8th and 9th. Leaders from across the country attending the event will now have the opportunity to savor the culinary delights of the iconic Manek Chowk.

Sources indicate that the decades-old drainage line in the walled city area, including Manek Chowk and its surroundings, had become prone to blockages and had significantly deteriorated. This necessitated a multi-crore rupee project to rehabilitate the infrastructure using modern techniques like CIPP (Cured-in-Place Pipe) lining and flow diversion. The work was concentrated in the central part of the market, near the shrine of Maneknath Bava. The rehabilitation efforts spanned from Rani’s Hajiro through the narrow lanes of Madan Gopal Haveli and Astodia Rangati Bazaar to Astodia Darwaja.

The AMC stated that the narrow lanes and the positioning of the old drainage line in some parts of the road posed logistical challenges for the heavy machinery, further contributing to the decision to temporarily close the market. With the successful completion of the rehabilitation project, residents and visitors can now look forward to a significant reduction in the persistent issue of overflowing drains in Manek Chowk and its adjacent areas. The reopening of the Manek Chowk night food market is expected to bring back the lively atmosphere and delicious flavors that it is renowned for in Ahmedabad. DeshGujarat