Bridge closure leads to chaos

Motorists and cyclists travelling between East Delhi and North Delhi are having a tough time as the traffic police have closed the Old Yamuna bridge.

Motorists and cyclists travelling between East Delhi and North Delhi are having a tough time as the traffic police have closed the Old Yamuna bridge.

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The entire traffic of Yamuna bridge has now shifted to Geeta Colony bridge resulting in long traffic jams on it and the Shantivan crossing on Ring Road everyday.

According to senior traffic police officers, the bridge has been closed to facilitate the construction of Ring Road bypass, a road parallel to Ring Road between Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and Salim Garh fort near Kashmere Gate ISBT.

The bypass project is being constructed by public works department, which will be widely used by athletes and delegates during the Commonwealth Games I October this year.

“The bridge has been closed for the motorised traffic in both directions so that the PWD could carry out the construction of the bypass project. The non-motorised traffic like bicycles and cycle rickshaws, is still being permitted,” joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg said.

“It will remain close for at least two months.”

The closure of old Yamuna bridge, or the lohe wala pul as it is popularly known, has resulted in shifting of majority of traffic on Geeta Colony bridge leading to long traffic jams.

According to a traffic survey conducted by RITES in May 2008, traffic volume on old Yamuna bridge is 85,243 passenger car units (PCU), which is more than the traffic that takes ITO bridge (Vikas Marg) everyday.

A large number of people living in residential colonies of Shadara, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Park, Seelampur and beyond take this road everyday to reach their workplace located in areas like Old Delhi, Mori Gate and other areas in North Delhi and central Delhi.

“The entire vehicular load of old bridge haas now shifted to Geeta Colony bridge. You can mile-long jam on this bridge even during the non-peak hours,” said Sanjeev Adlakaha, a resident of Gandhi Nagar.