Old Yamuna Bridge

The Old Yamuna Bridge is also known as Lohe-ka-Pul (लोहे का पुल) in Hindi. In technical railway jargon is also called as "bridge no 249" is one of the longest and oldest bridges in India, located in Delhi. The Old Yamuna Bridge is one of the longest and oldest bridges in India, the construction of the bridge started in 1863 and finished in 1866.[1] It was opened for public in the year 1867.[2] It is a double-decked steel Truss bridge which runs across the Yamuna river in the eastern part of the city. The bridge runs East-West across the Yamuna river connecting the city of Delhi to its neighborhood of Shahdara. It was constructed in 1866 by the East India Railway at a cost of £16,16,335.[3] It was built with a total length of 2,640 feet and consisted of 12 spans of 202.5 feet each.[3]

Old Yamuna Bridge Delhi लोहे का पुल ( Lohe-ka-Pul )
Coordinates	28°39′49″N 77°14′55″E
Carries	4 lanes
Locale	Delhi, India
Official name	Bridge no 249
Characteristics
Design	double-decked truss bridge
Material	Steel
Total length	930.25 metres (3,052 ft)
History
Construction start	1863
Construction end	1866
Statistics
Daily traffic	Railroad

Two principal cities of India, Kolkata in the east and Delhi in the north were connected by the Railways this being the last link of the grand trunk line that connected Lahore to Kolkata on this route.[1] There is a slight discrepancy about the year when did the second line started in one source it says that "in 1913. By adding down-line girders of 12 spans of 202 feet each and 2 end spans of 42 feet to the bridge this was converted into a double line."[3] But in another source it says "It was built for a single railway line but converted into a double line in 1932 and reopened in 1934"[4] because of increased traffic on this section.

It has the capacity of serving roadways as well as railways simultaneously. Upper deck is used for two-lane railway line which connects Old Delhi railway station to Shahdra railway station, while the lower deck has been used for road traffic. Since 1913 For the movement of road traffic.

The old Yamuna Bridge has a similar bridge further downstream between Allahabad and Naini on the Allahabad — Mughalsarai section of the now North Central Railways.

With its huge iron girders, this bridge will be history when A new 992.25 metres (3,255 ft) long bridge (under construction) adjacent to The old Yamuna Bridge becomes operational. But it would certainly not mean to end for this bridge and it will continue to remain one of the most famous Icons of the city. The role will be changed to carrying light road traffic only from East Delhi to old Delhi and back.