Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has told the Commercial Court that the demolition of the Hatkeshwar flyover is not optional but essential to safeguard public lives. In a strongly worded affidavit, AMC countered contractor Ajay Engi-Infrastructure Pvt Ltd’s plea to stop the demolition, stating that the bridge was built with substandard materials and now poses a serious risk to thousands of commuters.

AMC highlighted that three independent expert bodies — IIT Roorkee, SVNIT Surat, and a panel of senior engineers — had unanimously concluded that the structure cannot be repaired.

The corporation also accused the contractor of wilful default, noting that its offer to carry out repairs surfaced only after test results exposed the inferior materials used. AMC stressed that design approval by the Roads and Buildings Department did not absolve the builder of execution failures.

The civic body also stated that the demolition is already underway, and halting it midway could create fresh hazards. The civic body dismissed the contractor’s move to block the process as an attempt to safeguard commercial interests at the cost of public safety. The flyover, built for Rs 42 crore, is being dismantled by a Mumbai-based firm for Rs 3.90 crore after expert panels declared it unsafe. Meanwhile, Ajay Engi-Infrastructure has approached the City Civil Court, offering to rebuild the bridge at its own expense. DeshGujarat