In a bid to streamline train operations between New Delhi and Ghaziabad via Anand Vihar, a new railway bridge is set to be constructed parallel to the existing Tilak Bridge over the Yamuna River. This ambitious initiative aims to significantly improve the punctuality and efficiency of train services, providing much-needed relief to daily commuters who often face delays and overcrowding.
The proposed bridge, spanning approximately six hundred meters, has already been allocated for construction, with work expected to commence shortly. This new infrastructure project is anticipated to address the longstanding issue of delays by facilitating the timely movement of trains departing from New Delhi railway station.
The financial outlay for this project is projected to be around 218 crore rupees, marking a substantial investment in enhancing the railway infrastructure in the region.
Addressing Track Capacity Challenges
Currently, trains bound for Ghaziabad from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations rely on the Tilak Bridge, which features only two tracks. The growing number of trains operating from these stations has highlighted the critical need to expand track capacity, a need that the new bridge aims to fulfill. The lack of additional lines often results in delays and inconvenience for passengers.
Efforts are already underway to lay the third and fourth lines between Tilak Bridge and Anand Vihar, and the introduction of the fifth and sixth lines between Tilak Bridge and New Delhi two years ago has alleviated congestion to some extent.
Fourth Railway Bridge Across the Yamuna
The upcoming bridge will be the fourth railway structure across the Yamuna in Delhi, joining the ranks of the Old Iron Bridge and Tilak Bridge, which currently facilitate the movement of trains across the river. A new bridge parallel to the more than 150-year-old Old Iron Bridge near Shahdara is nearing completion, further expanding the railway network over the Yamuna.
Yamuna River’s Existing and Under-Construction Bridges
Delhi boasts a total of 25 operational and under-construction bridges over a 22-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna, including four metro bridges (with one more under construction), one under-construction RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) bridge, two operational railway bridges, and one under construction. In addition, there are 16 road bridges, underscoring the strategic importance of river crossings in facilitating urban mobility.
