The Indian Railways is lastly set to change Old Yamuna Bridge, also called, the Purana Lohe Ka Pul with a brand new bridge — whose plan was sanctioned over 25 years ago- adjoining to it by the tip of this 12 months.
The new bridge shall be completed quickly as the muse work, which was an impediment to the mission, has now been accomplished.
The previous bridge lies shut to Old Delhi Railway station and joins Shahdara and Old Delhi Railway station by way of rail and street hyperlink.
The long-awaited projected, which has missed quite a few deadlines, owing to obstacles with the execution is lastly nearing its shut.
“There were a number of issues including the issue related to the Archeological Survey of India and also some foundations but it has all been sorted out now and it will be completed very soon. This will help us maintain the smooth rail traffic over Yamuna River,” stated Deepak Kumar, Chief Public Relation Officer of Northern Railways.
The new bridge was deliberate again a lot earlier than 1997-98 when the work was sanctioned. Till date, all its 15 foundations have been accomplished and superstructure work is in full tempo.
There are a complete 14 spans and open internet girders have been launched at 6 numbers of spans. The building division of Northern Railways which is finishing up the mission is hopeful that it will be accomplished by September 2023, officers say.
Over 25 years and counting after first plan sanctioned
After the work was sanctioned, the mission began in 2003 however was halted repeatedly due to a number of causes. The first one was the objection from ASI.
As per the proposed alignment of the brand new bridge, its method observe was to cross by the premises of Salimgarh Fort, a Protected Monument, to join with the prevailing railway tracks.
To execute the work, a bit of land of roughly 1000 sqm was wanted to be acquired within the premises of Salimgarh Fort. After a number of conferences and approvals, in 2007, ASI withdrew its permission to railways as they apprehended that dismantling a portion of the wall would trigger irreversible injury to the protected monument.
Finally in 2011, primarily based on a report submitted by the ‘Cultural Impact Assessment Committee’ appointed for this situation, it was determined to change the alignment to keep away from the Salimgarh Fort.
Railways began the work as soon as once more and gave a number of deadlines through the years however couldn’t full the mission.
In an RTI reply filed by CNN-News 18 in 2020, it was stated that there’s some technical situation with the foundations of the bridge and the mission is getting delayed.
It was a technical drawback within the methodology however later, for the 5 wells within the flowing river space, a brand new/alternate Pneumatic sinking methodology was advised.
In 2012, ASI granted permission to perform the steadiness work with the revised alignment. IIT/Delhi was nominated to finalize the methodology for building of steadiness sub-structure. In view of the complexity of the location, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG), partaking eminent specialists, was additionally fashioned to counsel the methodology to execute the steadiness works.
The historic previous bridge constructed in 1866
The previous Yamuna bridge which can also be thought of as an id of Delhi is over 150 years previous. It was constructed in 1866 and has outlived its life.
It consists of 12 spans of 202.5 toes and two finish spans of 34.5 toes every. The bridge was designed and constructed throughout the Yamuna River duly factoring within the occasional excessive floods witnessed within the river.
There are whole 11 piers and basis degree for all piers are completely different.
Considering its age, railways had carried out fabrication work in 2018 on the bridge for its higher survival.
“Though it is safe for rail traffic, we maintain cautions at several points. We all place speed restrictions seeing the water flow in the river,” stated a senior officer from Delhi Division of Northern Railways.
(*25*)Benefits for rail passengers
Even when there are claims relating to security whereas visitors passes by the previous bridge, senior officers of railways say that the bridge has accomplished its life and it’s an extension provided that a number of fabrication works have been carried out on it.
The pace restriction on it and hazard related throughout monsoon and flood like state of affairs prompted the necessity of a brand new bridge as early as potential.
“Currently, we have 120 to 150 trains passing by it on a daily basis including freight trains. Road traffic is managed by Delhi Govt and heavy vehicles are not allowed. Once our new bridge is ready, we will shift our traffic from this bridge to our new bridge,” stated Kumar. This will guarantee higher pace and clean visitors administration that may assist in operation, he added.
