Brace for traffic nightmare: Kalindi Kunj bridge to close for repairs

02 December, 2012

Commuters using Kalindi Kunj bridge to travel from Delhi to Noida and vice versa would have to face a tough situation as the bridge would remain shut for two-way traffic from December 15, owing to some repair work.

EVEN THOUGH the Okhla Barrage bridge is in dire need of repairs but what has irked the commuters most is that the bridge would be closed during the festive season that includes the Christmas Week and the New Year celebrations.

Built in 1985, the bridge has never undergone any major repair work since, according to Noida police. And closing the bridge would put immense pressure on the DND flyway and other alternate roads.

Even though Delhi police suggested that the carriageway should be allowed one-way, commuters are going to face a terrible time during the period the bridge would be shut.

The Public Welfare Department (PWD) of Delhi government has been entrusted with the repair work. From December 15 to January 15 the road from Delhi to Noida will be closed and the opposite side of the road would be closed from January 15 to February 15, with one permanent lane open for small cars and two wheelers.

"The current condition of bridge is such as that any big accident can happen any time. It is better to repair it now without waiting further and thus we have given two months of time to get the bridge repaired by closing alternate roads," said MP Singh, Noida Superintendent of Police (Traffic).

The bridge was originally designed to withstand a pressure of 10,000 vehicles per day, but around 1lakh vehicles use the bridge daily. Given this voluminous increase of traffic, the government has decided to go for the repairs.