The repair work on Varanasi’s historic Rajghat Bridge commenced on Tuesday night, with movement of all vehicles and pedestrians prohibited on the bridge between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Authorities have implemented traffic diversions and additional safety measures to manage traffic during the maintenance period.
Following coordination between the Railway authorities and the Public Works Department (PWD), a block has been implemented for the proposed repair work on Rajghat Bridge. From 10 p.m. on Tuesday, barriers and Jersey dividers were installed on both sides of the bridge to stop vehicular movement.
Repair work will be carried out daily from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., while the bridge will remain open for regular traffic during daytime hours.
The administration has clarified that no vehicles or pedestrians will be permitted to cross the bridge during the night-time repair period. Normal movement on the bridge will continue from 7 a.m. to 9:55 p.m.
Rajghat Bridge is one of the city’s important and oldest bridges. The structure, which is more than 100 years old, is undergoing repair and replacement of drainage spouts and expansion joints.
The work has been assigned to Meerut-based Seeko Company.
The repair work was initially scheduled to begin on June 14, with a proposed 60-day block period. However, the project was postponed for a few days due to administrative reasons. With work now underway, the concerned agencies are attempting to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.
The administration had already implemented route diversions ahead of the repair work. Information boards have been installed and details of alternate routes are being provided for public convenience.
Despite these arrangements, several drivers reached the barricades in the Rajghat and Padao areas, leading to temporary congestion.
Police and traffic department officials deployed at the site directed commuters toward alternate routes. Teams from the local police, traffic police and outpost officers are continuously monitoring the situation to ensure safety and traffic management.
Officials have appealed to residents to follow the designated traffic diversions and avoid using Rajghat Bridge during night hours until the repair work is completed. Authorities said this would help maintain traffic flow and enable the repair work to be completed safely and within schedule.
