Rajkot: In a major boost to city infrastructure, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has announced that the much-awaited four-lane railway overbridge on Jamnagar Road — popularly known as Sandhiya Bridge — is nearing completion, with around 90 per cent of the work already finished.

Constructed at a cost of ₹74.32 crore, the 602-metre-long and 16.4-metre-wide flyover replaces the decades-old two-lane bridge built in 1978. The civic body is expediting the remaining work with the aim of inaugurating the structure before the announcement of civic election dates and the enforcement of the model code of conduct.

Key Engineering Milestone Achieved

In a significant development, seven steel girders for the 36-metre central span were successfully installed over the railway tracks during a late-night railway block. According to RMC officials, the operation was carried out in coordination with railway authorities, adhering to strict safety protocols. Cross-girder bracing and related works will continue during scheduled railway blocks over the next two days.

With this, the bridge’s core structural framework is largely complete. The project comprises 21 spans, including 20 regular spans and the central railway span. Foundational works include 20 footings and 40 piers, along with 20 pier caps and 120 PSC girders forming part of the superstructure.

Drainage and Service Infrastructure Integrated

To prevent waterlogging during monsoons, two RCC box culverts and approximately 168 metres of RCC retaining wall have been constructed. The RMC has also developed 7.5-metre-wide service roads on both sides of the bridge, along with pedestrian-friendly footpaths to ensure smoother local access beneath and around the flyover.

The remaining works primarily include construction of service roads, completion of the last 30 metres of RCC wall, approach roads and bituminous surfacing.

Relief for 1.5 Lakh Commuters

Jamnagar Road serves as a key arterial entry point to Rajkot and has long witnessed severe traffic congestion, particularly at the railway crossing. Once operational, the new overbridge is expected to eliminate delays caused by train movements, significantly easing peak-hour traffic and reducing fuel wastage.

The old bridge was declared unsafe for heavy vehicles following the Morbi bridge collapse in 2022 and was later closed entirely in May 2024 for dismantling. Since then, GSRTC buses from Jamnagar, Dwarka, Morbi and Kutch have been rerouted via the longer Ring Road, while heavy vehicles have been diverted through the narrow Bhomeshwar stretch, leading to frequent bottlenecks.

Civic officials estimate that nearly 1.5 lakh commuters will directly benefit from the upgraded infrastructure. Once opened, heavy vehicles and state transport buses will be able to resume their original route, restoring smoother connectivity between Madhapar Chowkdi and Hospital Chowk.

With only finishing works pending, the civic body is pushing to complete the remaining 10 per cent at the earliest, marking the project as a critical step in strengthening Rajkot’s long-term urban mobility framework. DeshGujarat