The Uttar Pradesh Housing Board has taken a significant step towards improving connectivity in Ghaziabad by granting in-principle approval for the construction of a new bridge over the Hindon River. The project, estimated to cost Rs 51 crore, aims to link Siddharth Vihar township with Indirapuram and Vasundhara, providing much-needed relief to commuters.
Project Details and Proposed Construction
According to Ajay Mittal, Executive Engineer of the UP Housing Board, a formal proposal for the bridge will be presented in the board's upcoming meeting. Once vetted and finalized, construction will commence. The planned structure will be a 200-meter long and 20-meter wide four-lane bridge. It will originate from the floodplain area between Sector 8 and Sector 9 of Siddharth Vihar and extend approximately 50 meters into the opposite floodplain to connect with Indirapuram.
The need for this infrastructure was identified following a survey by the irrigation department in February last year. The area parallel to the Hindon Barrage was earmarked, and the UP Bridge Corporation was tasked with preparing a feasibility report and Detailed Project Report (DPR), which paved the way for the current approval.
Addressing Chronic Traffic Congestion
Currently, the only crossing in the vicinity is a narrow, single-lane bridge near the Hindon barrage, originally built for monitoring water flow but now used by locals. The major traffic load from densely populated areas like Siddharth Vihar and Pratap Vihar spills onto other bridges, causing significant strain on the existing network.
Ghaziabad's bridge infrastructure over the Hindon has seen upgrades in recent years. The nearly 70-year-old Old Hindon Bridge was closed in 2017 due to cracks and replaced by a new one in 2022. A parallel bridge served as a temporary link during that period. Another bridge connecting the Meerut tri-section with Vasundhara was constructed in 2015. Despite these, a critical gap in connectivity between key residential colonies remained.
A Long-Term Solution for Enhanced Connectivity
The new four-lane bridge is envisioned as a permanent solution to decongest traffic and offer seamless connectivity between the UP Housing Board-administered colonies of Siddharth Vihar and Vasundhara, via Indirapuram. It will provide a dedicated, robust link for thousands of residents, reducing travel time and pressure on the older structures.
The project's approval marks a crucial development in Ghaziabad's urban infrastructure planning, addressing a long-standing demand for better inter-colony connectivity across the Hindon River. All eyes are now on the board meeting where the final nod is expected, triggering the start of construction.
