UP guv gives financial, administrative nod to replace British-era bridges

PILIBHIT: UP governor Anandiben Patel has given financial and administrative approval for the construction of two new bridges on the Hardoi feeder canal of Sharda river in Pilibhit district, replacing British-era bridges — Danga and Kalinagar.

The two bridges were closed early March last year after deep cracks appeared on the surface, disrupting UP-Uttarakhand interstate traffic and the Pilibhit-Lucknow highway route through Madhotanda.State deputy secretary Subas Ram on Tuesday issued two separate letters to this effect to the Lucknow-based chief engineer (development) of PWD. “The Danga bridge will be constructed parallel to the existing structure with an outlay of Rs 25.8 crore, while the Kalinagar bridge will require Rs 27 crore,” he said.He added that of the total approved cost of construction, the first instalments — Rs 9 crore for Danga and Rs 9.4 crore for Kalinagar — will be allocated under the 2025-26 financial year. District magistrate Gyanendra Singh said the construction work will be carried out by the UP State Bridge Corporation.Project manager Brijendra Maurya said the measurements of the new bridges will be matched with the old ones to ensure smooth canal discharge. “Starting with the next phase, we will first finalise the design of the two bridges, which will be followed by the tendering process,” he said, adding that early formalities are expected to be completed within two months before physical construction begins.Notably, nine bridges were constructed on the Hardoi branch canal in the 1920s, of which one on Pilibhit-Basti NH-730 was reconstructed and completed in Feb this year.