Delhi’s Minto Bridge which has been witnessing frequent flooding this monsoon and a key link between New Delhi, Old Delhi and Connaught Place has been closed for repair works till September 2, the Delhi traffic police said in an advisory in a social media post on X.
According to an advisory, both the carriageways at Minto Bridge will remain closed till Monday morning due to repair work of deep potholes. It has been closed from August 30 (10 PM) to September 2 (7 am). To minimise any possible inconveniences to travel, travellers have been encouraged to seek other routes. The Ranjeet Singh flyover on Barakhamba Road is the suggested detour. To minimize inconvenience, commuters are highly recommended to schedule their trips appropriately.
The advisory asked the general public and motorists to keep patience, observe traffic rules and road discipline and follow direction of traffic personnel deployed at all intersections and remain updated through their social media channels.
The Minto Bridge has frequently been in the news, especially during this monsoon, due to persistent issues of massive waterlogging.There are still substantial issues for commuters as a result of the unresolved issue, despite several initiatives and attempts by civic agencies. The road’s condition has deteriorated due to the frequent waterlogging. There are large potholes on Minto Bridge that need to be fixed right now to make travel safer.
Minto Bridge connects New Delhi Railway Station with Connaught Place, named after Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto, who was the viceroy and governor-general of India from 1905 to 1910. It was built in 1933, between the flood plains of the Yamuna river and the Delhi Ridge. The Delhi Ridge is the northern extension of the ancient Aravalli hill range, which is surrounded by urban areas.
The Minto Bridge underpass has a catchment area of one kilometre, contributing to the recurring waterlogging issues during heavy rainfall. Water from two roads flows down to the slope, and the DJB sewage line overflows, exacerbating the flooding. Even minimal rain can result in waterlogging, causing buses and other vehicles to get submerged.
The Minto Bridge is of historical and strategic importance in the heart of Delhi. Minto Bridge was built in 1933 after the seat of power of the British Raj moved from Calcutta to Delhi.
The underpass below the bridge is a low-lying patch, surrounded on all sides by areas at a higher elevation. This bowl-like depression is a natural receptacle for rainwater.
Minto Bridge witnessed violence during the riots at the time of Partition. There are several accounts of how those fleeing the walled city — on foot and in tongas — to refugee camps in Purana Qila and Humanyun’s Tomb were ambushed and killed near Minto Bridge.
The Bridge hit the headlines first time in the early 1950s for water-logging. In the late 1960s, Minto Bridge area became Delhi’s cabaret destination with the opening of Blue Star, a restro-bar. Tucked by the side of the bridge, it soon found thousands of patrons.
In 2008, a report emerged of Northern Railways getting verbal approval from the Ministry of Urban Development to demolish the old bridge and make way for a new one for its elaborate redevelopment plans for the New Delhi railway station, but the plan never took off.
