New rail bridge alongside Loha Pul ready for train ops | Delhi News

New Delhi: Following a decade-long delay marked by missed deadlines and multiple challenges, the new rail bridge built alongside Delhi’s historic Loha Pul is now ready for train operations. A senior Northern Railway official said, “We recently conducted a trial run, and received clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS).” He added that the train operations have already begun in one direction — from Delhi towards the Delhi-Shahdara section — and services for trains coming into Delhi will commence soon. Officials said full operations on both sides are likely to begin soon, with only final technical formalities remaining. “Non-interlocking work is currently underway in some sections, which involves connecting the bridge to signalling systems. Once this is completed, the inauguration will follow,” the official said. The inauguration is likely to take place later this month or early next month. The CRS inspection was carried out, after which authorisation was granted for the cut-and-connection process to begin traffic movement. The 865-metre-long bridge, built at a cost of Rs 227 crore, is expected to significantly ease rail traffic. Unlike the old Loha Pul, the new structure imposes no speed restrictions on electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. It has been constructed at a higher elevation over the Yamuna to ensure uninterrupted operations even during high floods. Designed with modern steel girders and bolted connections, the bridge features a double rail line and has been built to a 25-tonne loading standard. It has undergone static load testing and “performed satisfactorily”, officials said. The existing Yamuna bridge, popularly known as Loha Pul, dates back to 1867 and has far exceeded its intended lifespan. It is a two-deck structure, with road traffic passing through the lower deck and trains operating on the upper deck. Due to its age, trains crossing the bridge are subject to a speed restriction of 30 kmph. The new bridge has been developed exclusively for train movement, while the old bridge will continue to be used for road traffic. The new bridge’s construction has been fraught with delays. The project was originally approved in 1997-98, with construction beginning in 2003. It was initially scheduled for completion by 2007, but faced hurdles. One of the challenges was its proximity to Salimgarh Fort, a protected monument. According to a senior railway official, the alignment of the bridge had to be altered as part of the construction required land within the fort premises. In 2007, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) withdrew the permission, citing potential irreversible damage to the monument. Later, in 2011, based on a report by the Cultural Impact Assessment Committee, the alignment was revised to avoid the fort area. Fresh approval was granted by the ASI in 2012, allowing work to resume. With all major hurdles now resolved, the long-pending project is finally set to become operational.