Uttar Pradesh's Oldest Bridge, Sanjay Setu, to Close for 2 Months for Repairs

• Sanjay Setu, Uttar Pradesh's oldest bridge over the Ghaghra River on NH 927, will close for 2 months from February 10 to April 9 for essential repairs.
• The closure of this 41-year-old bridge, connecting Lucknow with Bahraich, Gonda, Shravasti, Balrampur, and Nepal, will impact 75,000 to 1 lakh commuters daily.
• Built in 1984 at a cost of ₹10 crore, the 1 km long bridge is now in a dilapidated condition with cracks, necessitating ₹5 crore repairs.
• NHAI has entrusted M/s AM Builders with the repair work and has rejected the local administration's request to allow small vehicles during the closure.
• Alternative routes, significantly longer and more time-consuming, have been suggested, with Bahraich-Lucknow via Chalhari Ghat increasing to 151 km and Gonda-Lucknow via Ayodhya to 180 km.