Now Reading: PWD starts work on 9 pontoon bridges for Magh Mela 2027
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PWD starts work on 9 pontoon bridges for Magh Mela 2027
The Story in Brief
Prayagraj: The Public Works Department has started constructing nine pontoon bridges for Magh Mela 2027, beginning with the Old GT bridge in Daraganj. The temporary bridge work began on Thursday, 12 November 2026 after a traditional bhoomi pujan. All nine bridges are scheduled to be completed by 31 December.
The bridges will include Mahavir, Triveni, Gangoli Shivala, Old GT, Kali Sadak, Nagvasuki, Bhardwaj and two bridges on the Arail side. Unlike the previous Magh Mela, no pontoon bridge will be built at Phaphamau. PWD executive engineer Surjeet Singh said the two Arail bridges will compensate for the removal, as a new six-lane bridge between Stanley Road and Malaka Harhar will handle traffic from Lucknow, Sultanpur and Ayodhya. One lane of the new bridge is expected to open in November 2026, and the second by end of December.
Deputy mela adhikari Vivek Shukla said the nine pontoon bridges are part of a broader expansion: the mela area will increase from about 844 hectares to 900-925 hectares, and the number of sectors from seven to eight. The bridges will provide temporary connectivity across the Ganga for pilgrims and Kalpvasis.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The removal of the Phaphamau bridges shifts a key traffic route to the new six-lane bridge, which is not yet fully open. If the second lane misses the December deadline, congestion could spike on the Lucknow-Prayagraj corridor during the mela's peak days. The expansion of the mela area by up to 81 hectares and the addition of an eighth sector suggest the administration expects a larger turnout than in 2025. With only one lane of the new bridge operational this month, the pressure on the Arail pontoon bridges will be immediate. Whether the PWD meets the 31 December deadline for all nine bridges will determine if pilgrims face bottlenecks before the main bathing dates.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
