Four-lane bridge over Ganga proposed at Hetapatti-Salori in Prayagraj

Prayagraj: A detailed survey report for the proposed construction of a new road bridge over the Ganga river at Hetapatti-Salori has been submitted to the Uttar Pradesh state govt by a team of experts. The report proposes the construction of a four-lane bridge, approximately three kilometres long, positioned perpendicular to the flow of the river. To assess environmental and geographical suitability of the site, additional reports will be sought from Remote Sensing Application Centre (RSSC), Lucknow, and the Irrigation Department, Prayagraj.The initial proposal was sent to govt in January this year following which the experts of State Bridge Corporation and PWD have been conducting several surveys.

The proposal includes the construction of a protective bund stretching from Buxi Bund to Salori. This bund is expected to provide much-needed relief to residents living near the banks of the Ganga, who face annual floods. This infrastructure will offer protection and long-term stability to the surrounding areas, significantly reducing flood-related risks for a large population. The technical specifications of the bridge are also outlined in the report. It will include a pile foundation of 40 metres in depth, solid circular piers with a diameter of 300 cm, pier caps, and a four-lane segmental box girder in the superstructure. Provision for footpaths and RCC crash barriers will also be made to ensure safety and pedestrian access.

The bridge will start near IERT and Mazar ROB and will connect to the Garapur Sahaso road via Rahimapur to the Prayagraj-Jaunpur Road. This access road, currently about 3.5 kilometres long, will be widened and upgraded to four lanes by the Public Works Department to support increased traffic flow and accessibility. On the Salori side, due to the presence of land under the control of the military administration, a no-objection certificate will be required from the Ministry of Defence. On the Hetapatti side, land acquisition will be carried out from local landowners to facilitate the construction of the access road and protective structures. The geographical nature of the Ganga at the proposed site necessitates an erosion report from RSSC and the irrigation department. If required, a guide bund will also be included in the final plan to protect the embankments from river flow and erosion.

The bridge will be immensely useful for the region. At present, pilgrims and residents travel an additional 10 to 15 kilometres due to the lack of a direct connection. The new bridge will not only reduce travel time and distance but also bring economic and social benefits to the region. It will link Prayagraj directly to SH-19 (Prayagraj–Varanasi Road) and improve connectivity to Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bihar, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, and Gorakhpur. Additionally, the proposed bridge will provide a direct route for pilgrims visiting the Kumbh Mela to access the river without entering the congested city areas. The traffic pressure on Shastri Setu will be reduced, and the development will bring significant growth opportunities to both Hetapatti and Salori, positively impacting the lives of nearly 25 lakh people in the region.