150-year-old Old Yamuna Bridge in Delhi shut for 1 month for repair

150-year-old Old Yamuna Bridge in Delhi shut for 1 month for repair

The Old Yamuna Bridge, popularly known as Loha Pul, will be shut for one month beginning Monday for necessary maintenance and repair.

The double-decker bridge, which was constructed during the British era in the 1860s, is a vital connection between Old Delhi’s commercial areas and several regions of East Delhi. The bridge features a railway line on the upper deck and a roadway on the lower deck.

The need for repair was felt during a recent inspection by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Few signs of wear and tear have surfaced in recent times, prompting the need for urgent maintenance and repair.

Daily commuters who travel along the Old Yamuna Bridge have raised concerns over the closure of the vital link. The bridge connects Old Delhi’s trading hubs such as Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar, among others, to the residential and other commercial areas of East Delhi.

However, the necessity of the repair cannot be ignored to maintain the safety and longevity of the historical structure. With the closure of the bridge, traffic has been diverted to alternate routes.

Commuters are expected to face traffic congestion owing to the closure of the bridge for one month.

During the inspection by the Lieutenant Governor, it was decided to conduct maintenance work on the Old Yamuna Bridge to uphold safety measures and strengthen the structure’s robustness for the convenience of numerous commuters who frequent the bridge daily.

The Old Yamuna Bridge has withstood many floods throughout its existence and is usually closed to traffic when the water level rises during monsoons.

On July 13 last year, the river Yamuna was flowing at 208.48 metres, breaking a 45-year-old record, and its floodwaters inundated low-lying areas, which led to evacuations and the establishment of relief camps for the affected locals.

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