Ahmedabad: The Sabarmati River flowing through the city is set to run dry for nearly two months as authorities commence large-scale repair work on the Vasna Barrage.

According to officials, the river will be completely emptied by Wednesday evening to facilitate the repair and replacement of 18 gates at the barrage, at an estimated cost of ₹9 crore. At present, around 2 million cubic metres of water remains in the river, which is being gradually released by opening 8 of the barrage’s 30 gates, discharging nearly 3,000 cusecs per second.

The irrigation department has scheduled the river to remain dry from April 15 to mid-June under a pre-monsoon dam safety initiative.

The decision follows a pre-monsoon inspection, during which experts recommended replacing 18 of the 30 gates at the barrage, while the remaining gates will undergo repairs to ensure structural safety ahead of the monsoon. Constructed in 1976, the barrage plays a crucial role in flood control and water regulation in Ahmedabad.

60-day target, delays possible

Authorities have set a 60-day deadline to complete the repairs before the onset of the monsoon, though delays cannot be ruled out. During this period, cleaning operations to remove accumulated waste from the riverbed are also likely to be undertaken.

Initially, the plan was to begin emptying the river from April 1, with upstream inflow halted on March 26. However, due to irrigation requirements for farmers via the Fatehwadi canal, the schedule was revised, and the emptying process began on Tuesday.

Subhash Bridge demolition to proceed

Additionally, the absence of water in the river will allow the civic body to proceed with demolition work on the damaged portion of Subhash Bridge, which connects the eastern and western parts of the city.

The old bridge is being dismantled after span settlement was reported, and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has approved construction of a new, wider bridge at an estimated cost of ₹235 crore.

Officials from the bridge project department said that nearly six central spans of the bridge will be demolished in the first phase. As debris is expected to fall into the river during the process, the work cannot be carried out when water is present, making the April–June dry period feasible for completing the demolition work. DeshGujarat