Ahmedabad: The state government has approved Rs 32.40 crore for the restoration of Ellis Bridge, built in 1892 over the Sabarmati River. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel cleared the funding under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Urban Development Scheme.

Ellis Bridge was the first to connect east and west Ahmedabad over the Sabarmati. It spans 433.41 meters in length and 6.25 meters in width. Declared unfit for pedestrian and vehicular traffic in 1997 due to weathering, two new bridges were constructed on either side and opened to the public the same year. The new bridge was renamed Vivekananda Bridge.

Once restored, Ellis Bridge will reopen as a footbridge. The restoration project includes joint repairs, bottom girder strengthening, bottom stringer reinforcement, new bearing installation, replacement of trusses and composite pier structure bracing, anti-corrosion treatment, and refurbishment of the bottom deck slab, among other improvements.