Prayagraj: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced a new Rs 1,000 crore bridge over the Ganga in the City North Assembly constituency. The new bridge will connect Salori to Hetapatti, spanning over 3 kilometers across the river. The State Bridge Corporation will construct the bridge, and the agency has already initiated preliminary surveys, including soil analysis.
Chief Minister's Address at Prayagraj Municipal Corporation
Addressing a gathering during his visit to the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation, the chief minister also stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be invited to inaugurate the nearly complete six-lane Ganga bridge and lay the foundation stone for the proposed new bridge project. The over 9-kilometer-long six-lane bridge being constructed over the Ganga is nearing completion and will significantly strengthen connectivity in the Sangam city, he said.
Yogi asserted that the state government would not step back from any proposal aimed at improving Prayagraj's infrastructure and assured that the flow of funds would never stop for future Kumbh arrangements. He also unveiled projects worth around Rs 400 crore and launched the new website of the Prayagraj Mela Authority.
Prayagraj's Transformation into a Smart City
Yogi said several more large-scale projects are in the pipeline as Prayagraj is rapidly emerging as a modern smart city with world-class infrastructure. Recalling the successful organization of Maha Kumbh 2025, he noted that over 66 crore devotees took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the 45-day event.
Thanking the residents of Prayagraj, Yogi said not a single voice of protest was raised despite heavy traffic congestion and commuting difficulties throughout the Maha Kumbh period. "Mai aaka abhari hun" (I am thankful to you all), said Yogi. "The people of Prayagraj treated Maha Kumbh like a function of their own family," he said, adding that when people treat the development of the state as the progress of their own family, prosperity follows naturally.
He termed the event a symbol of "gyan, bhakti, and karm" and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving global recognition to Kumbh through UNESCO recognition of the event.
Appeal for Cleanliness and Civic Management
The chief minister also appealed to citizens to continue maintaining cleanliness in the city. Praising the role of the city administration, sanitation workers, and public representatives, Yogi said Prayagraj presented a new model of cleanliness, civic management, and hospitality before the world. "The city's transformation was continuing with new development projects and beautification initiatives inspired by the flow of the Ganga," he said.
Law and Order Improvements
Highlighting improvements in law and order, Yogi said Prayagraj was now free from "mafia raj and goondaism." "Women, traders, and common citizens could move freely at any hour without fear," he said.
Waste to Wealth and Heritage Conservation
Yogi also referred to the Shivalaya Park at Arail under the "waste to wealth" concept and said nearly 400 tonnes of waste material were reused to create replicas of pilgrimage sites and the 12 Jyotirlingas. Referring to heritage conservation, Yogi said devotees can now freely visit Akshay Vat, which remained inaccessible for years before being opened for public darshan in 2019. He also said the historic Bharadwaj Ashram, once affected by encroachment, has now been freed and restored in a grand form.
