The 160 years old double decker old iron bridge, known as Loha ka Pul connecting east and north Delhi has been closed for repair works. The road surface will be covered with a fresh layer of bituminous material and road markings will be painted.  Delhi Traffic police has issued an advisory saying the road repair work on the old iron bridge will be conducted from February 12 to March 13, 2024. The Iron Bridge will be closed for traffic during this period. Commuters are requested to avoid the old Iron Bridge road. All motorists are advised to plan their journey accordingly,” traffic police said in a statement.

This double decker bridge was constructed during the British era and sees heavy traffic. The four-lane bridge has a railway line on the upper deck and roadway on the lower. Over the years, the road surface has eroded considerably.   Due to this poor surface condition, the movement of vehicles was slow, adding to the advice on driving slowly because of the antiquity of the bridge.

Motorists use the bridge to reach areas near Shahdara in east Delhi and localities near Kashmere Gate in north Delhi. There are some unauthorised colonies near the bridge.

Built by the East Indian Railway Company as part of a railroad link between Delhi and the then capital Calcutta in 1863, the Old Yamuna Bridge was regarded as an architectural marvel. The 2,640 feet bridge consists of 12 spans, all measuring 202.5 feet each, and is the first bridge of its kind in north India, according to Indian Railways officials, who also claim it to be one of the oldest standing bridges in the country. Construction of the bridge was overseen by George Sibley, chief engineer of the northwest province of the East Indian Railway Company who is also credited with the Naini Bridge in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) and the old Delhi railway station, George Huddlestone, former superintendent of East India Railway, writes in his book History of the East Indian Railway. The book was published in 1902.

Work on the new bridge, which is being built parallel to the Old Yamuna Bridge or Loha Pul, began in 2003. The construction work witnessed several halts over the years owing to structural changes.