Valsad: Tourists visiting Valsad will soon get an experience similar to Ahmedabad’s famous Atal Bridge, as an attractive pedestrian cable bridge built on the same pattern has been completed at the Umarsadi sea coast in Pardi taluka at an estimated cost of ₹9.5 crore. The 126-metre-long bridge, constructed over a creek near the GETCO sub-station at Desaiwad village, directly connects the coastal stretch and is expected to become a major tourist attraction in the district.

The bridge has been developed to boost tourism in the coastal belt and will be opened for visitors after formal inauguration, which is expected to be carried out soon by state Finance Minister and Pardi MLA Kanubhai Desai. The project was approved about two years ago after a proposal to develop the site as a tourist destination was placed before the district administration.

Officials said the bridge has been constructed at a height of around 26 feet above the creek and is designed exclusively for pedestrians. Vehicles are not allowed beyond a certain point near the shore in order to maintain cleanliness, and visitors have to walk across the bridge to reach the beach area. The design is inspired by the Atal Bridge on the the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

The project had been a long-pending demand of locals, particularly Desaiwad village farmer Bharatbhai Desai, who had been pursuing the proposal for nearly a decade. After the matter was brought to the attention of the state government, the tourism-oriented development received approval, and the construction was carried out under the supervision of the Valsad Roads and Buildings Department.

Even before its formal inauguration, the bridge has started drawing visitors from Pardi, Vapi, Valsad, Daman, and Silvassa. Tourists are visiting the site to enjoy sea views, sunset scenes, and photography, while the location is also becoming popular for pre-wedding and event shoots. Officials expect the bridge to emerge as one of the key tourist hotspots in Valsad district in the coming days. DeshGujarat