The newly inaugurated longest bridge of Saurashtra witnessed massive traffic chaos on its very first day as thousands of people flocked to take photos and create social media reels. The bridge, located in Jamnagar and recently opened by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, became the center of attraction due to its dazzling lighting setup arranged by the municipal corporation. The situation worsened when people arriving in large numbers on two-wheelers and four-wheelers halted midway on the bridge to capture the view, creating a 3-km-long queue of vehicles. The police were forced to temporarily shut the bridge to control the growing crowd. It took nearly two and a half hours of continuous effort by the police teams to bring the traffic flow back to normal. The ₹226-crore flyover project, spanning 3.5 kilometers from Saat Rasta Circle to areas near Subhash Bridge, was under construction since August 2021 and had finally been opened for public use. However, just a few hours after its inauguration, the large crowd of locals eager to experience the new bridge led to complete traffic disorder. After the opening ceremony in the afternoon, hundreds of families rushed to the bridge during the evening hours. People of all ages—children, youngsters, elders—arrived to enjoy the illuminated view. By around 9:30 PM, both ends of the bridge from Saat Rasta Circle to Subhash Bridge were choked with vehicles waiting in long queues. The temporary lighting arranged for three days made the bridge more attractive, encouraging more visitors to record reels and take photographs. As the videos went viral on social media, even more people rushed to the bridge, worsening the congestion. Drivers stopping abruptly to shoot videos created critical traffic bottlenecks. The police struggled to maintain order as the situation turned chaotic, with honking, crowding, and slow-moving traffic across the stretch. According to officials, thousands of people were present at the bridge at one time, far exceeding the expected crowd. The pressure on the bridge and connecting roads caused gridlock on multiple adjoining routes. Traffic on the bridge reached a standstill, forcing authorities to intervene immediately. Jamnagar Traffic Police, along with teams from the City ‘B’ Division and other police units, worked continuously to divert vehicles and ease movement. Officers on duty manually guided vehicles, cleared static crowds, and urged the public to keep moving. The sound pollution also increased as impatient motorists continuously honked while stuck in the jam. Despite several announcements urging the public to avoid stopping on the flyover, people continued taking selfies and videos, further delaying the dispersal. With consistent efforts, police succeeded in gradually normalizing traffic past midnight. Officials stated that once the visitor rush reduced later at night, traffic flow on the bridge became manageable and returned to routine. The administration has appealed to citizens to use the bridge responsibly, avoid unnecessary halts, and cooperate with authorities during the festive lighting period. The municipal corporation is expected to review and strengthen traffic monitoring to prevent similar situations in the next two days while the lighting remains in place. What was supposed to be a celebratory first day for the city turned into a traffic management challenge, highlighting the need for stricter regulation, controlled entry, and public awareness on newly opened landmark structures.
Saurashtra’s Longest Bridge Jammed on Day 1 as Crowd Gathers for Photoshoot
