Gonda Barhgaon railway overbridge receives one crore rupees for urgent repairs
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sanctioned approximately one crore rupees for the urgent repair of the 40-year-old Barhgaon railway overbridge in Gonda. This crucial funding comes after a proposal was submitted by the National Highway Division of Ayodhya about six months ago. S.K. Mishra, the Executive Engineer of the NH Division in Ayodhya, has confirmed that the tender process for this much-needed infrastructure project has officially started.
The Barhgaon railway overbridge is a vital connectivity link that connects Gonda to Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, and several neighboring districts while also serving as a key transit route towards Nepal. With thousands of vehicles crossing the bridge daily and over 120 trains operating beneath it, the structure has unfortunately suffered from significant structural wear and tear over its four decades of service.
Current Structural Issues and Safety Concerns
Commuters using this route have long faced a bumpy and risky ride. Current observations highlight that the bridge suffers from severely broken railings, exposed expansion joints, and excessive vibrations accompanied by loud noises whenever heavy vehicular traffic passes over it. These issues have raised serious safety concerns for both road motorists and railway operations underneath.
Details of the Upcoming Restoration Project
The sanctioned restoration project is designed to drastically improve the safety, stability, and longevity of the bridge. The extensive scope of work includes:
- Replacement of damaged expansion joints to ensure smoother vehicular movement.
- Strengthening of weakened structural sections to boost overall load-bearing capacity.
- Repair and replacement of broken safety railings for pedestrians and motorists.
- Complete removal and reconstruction of the upper road surface of the bridge.