Prayagraj: The new six-lane, over-nine-kilometre-long bridge over the Ganga is set to open for traffic in phases, with one carriageway between Stanley Road and Malak Harhar expected to become operational from Nov 15 and the second from Dec 15. The project is now about 95% complete, with only the laying of bituminous road, some finishing work and a few other tasks remaining.The first carriageway would be opened to traffic on Nov 15, while vehicles would be allowed on the second carriageway from Dec 15. The project, being executed under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is now around 95% complete.With the new bridge now operational, commuters on the Stanley Road-Lucknow route should have a faster alternative, while traffic on the old Phaphamau bridge is likely to drop considerably. The new crossing is also expected to ease congestion on key approach roads during peak hours.Project in charge Mohmad Nusratullah Khan of the Ministry of Road Transport said, “Only minor works and finishing touches remain, and these will be completed before Nov 15. One lane will open from Nov 15, as around 95% of the work is complete. We are waiting for the rains to end so that work on laying the bituminous road can begin.”Traffic on both lanes will start from around Dec 15, he added.Meanwhile, testing of the facade lighting on the bridge has begun. The portion of the structure running over the Ganga will be illuminated with tricolour-themed lights, giving the bridge a distinctive appearance after dark.The five-km-long portion over the Ganga will have 44 cables. At present, two of the five cables are yet to be connected, a task expected to take about a month. Sound barriers will also be installed on the bridge along the densely populated stretch near Muirabad to minimise noise-related inconvenience to residents.The illuminated bridge is expected to emerge as a prominent landmark along the Ganga, similar to the illuminated Yamuna bridge at Naini, apart from serving as an important new road link for the city and neighbouring areas.
