Ahmedabad: Hundreds of commuters remained stranded for 6-8 hours on the Sarkhej-Ahmedabad-Sanand highway after heavy rain triggered widespread flooding and massive traffic snarls in Sarkhej and Juhapura on Thursday. Residents and commuters blamed inadequate drainage infrastructure and ongoing flyover construction for aggravating the crisis.Kaushar Ali Syed, a social activist from Juhapura, said several residential pockets and roads were submerged under waist-deep water after the downpour. “There is a long-standing issue with the drainage and stormwater network. The civic body’s failure to address it has left residents facing severe flooding every monsoon,” he said.According to Syed, the ongoing flyover construction added to the chaos, with traffic remaining gridlocked for hours as vehicles struggled through flooded stretches. “Even on Friday, traffic movement remained slow and no concrete action was visible to clear the waterlogging in these areas,” he said.
Motorists and commuters stranded at Sarkhej Ahmedabad-Sanand highway due to heavy rain
A police officer who managed traffic on the Sarkhej-Juhapura stretch throughout Thursday night said the combination of intense rainfall, flyover construction, inadequate traffic diversions, and motorists attempting to force their way through flooded roads resulted in one of the worst traffic jams in recent years.Saqib Shaikh, a lawyer and resident of Juhapura, said the flyover project between Vishala Circle and Sarkhej had reduced the available road space while an elevated service road alongside the highway obstructed the natural flow of rainwater.“The service road is higher than the adjoining carriageway, causing water to accumulate on the main road instead of draining away. It appears to be a design failure that has worsened flooding,” Shaikh said.
