30-04-2025
Key underpass to Vadodara station to shut down for six months, starting tomorrow. Here are alternate routes
From Thursday, the Priyalakshmi mill railway underpass that connects the Western part of the city to the Vadodara Railway station as well as the Bus Station in Sayajigunj will remain closed to vehicular traffic for a period of six months to facilitate civil works on the Mumbai- Ahmedabad Bullet train project.
As the work on the Mumbai - Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSRC), passing through Vadodara city, enters its advanced stage, the Vadodara city police notified the closure of the two-way underpass on Wednesday.
Based on the request of the project manager of NHSRCL in a communication dated April 14, Vadodara City Commissioner of Police Narasimha Komar notified that Priyalakshmi Mill railway underpass will remain closed for a period of six months until October 31, 2025.
The notification of the Vadodara city police stated, 'The civil work on the C-5 package of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor is being undertaken by L&T in Vadodara. Since the civil works have to begin on the stretch around and above the Priyalaxmi mill underpass, the said underpass will be closed for vehicular traffic from May 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025, and diversion has been recommended.'
In order to ensure that there is no inconvenience caused in traffic movement, alternate diversions have been notified under the powers conferred by the Gujarat Police Act, 1951, to alter rules regarding regulation of traffic.
The police notification states, 'The road leading from Vadodara railway station towards Priyalakshmi Mill railway underpass towards Atal Bridge will remain closed to traffic. The alternate route notified by the Vadodara city police is via Pandya Bridge from the railway station. Instead of the road from Atal Bridge to Priyalakshmi mill underpass, the police have notified the route via Pandya Bridge to the railway station as well as the exit from Atal Bridge leading to Alkapuri underpass and to the Vadodara railway junction.'
When contacted, NHSRCL officials told this newspaper that the closure of the underpass had been requested as a 'precautionary action' for the ongoing construction of the concourse of the upcoming High Speed Rail station of Vadodara. NHSRCL spokesperson said, 'The closure is a precautionary step as the slab casting work of the concourse will begin shortly. Thereafter, the work of the platform slab will also be undertaken and the closure is needed for safety.'
