Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday visited the 400 year old Barapullah Bridge in Nizamuddin for the second time while the restoration work of the bridge was handed over to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

“The structure was lying decrepit, under heavy encroachment and was reduced to a dump yard of debris and garbage from the nearby localities. Saxena had directed the removal of encroachment and restoration of the bridge in a mission mode. Local residents as well as local representatives have also supported the LG’s initiative of restoring the Bridge,” an official from the Raj Niwas said.

Saxena was accompanied by Chief Secretary and the Director General of ASI, who assured of complete restoration within three months. He also directed the ASI to undertake the restoration work while maintaining the originality of the structure and install proper lighting on the bridge once the works are completed.

He lauded the efforts of all concerned agencies including Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC), Railways and ASI, for putting in joint efforts to remove encroachments and desilt and declog the drain flowing under the bridge. “With concrete efforts of the agencies, encroachment from the bridge has been removed within a week and the desilting of the drain is underway. ASI will take up the restoration work immediately after the desilting is completed,” another official added.

The bridge, which was built by Minar Banu Agha, under Emperor Jehangir’s tutelage, nearly 400 years ago, has been named “Barapulla” due to its 12 piers and 11 arches.  According to historians, the bridge was built in 1628, and the road between the bridge and the Humayun’s Tomb was a wide tree-lined path and was considered one of the most beautiful bridges of Delhi. It is believed that the Mughals used the bridge to cross the Yamuna River to reach Nizamuddin Dargah and Humayun's Tomb on their way from Agra, the then Capital.

“This historical architectural wonder, now hidden due to encroachments and constructions over it, is a marvel of engineering and masonship,” a statement said.