MLA Dr. Neeraj Bora Performs Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Bridge Construction

New Four-Lane Bridge Parallel to Harding Bridge to Be Completed in Two Years
Bridge Site Holds Nearly 250 Years of Historical Significance

Lucknow: On Sunday, MLA Dr. Neeraj Bora formally launched the construction of a new four-lane arch bridge over the Gomti River near the historic British-era brick bridge by performing the bhoomi poojan ceremony with Vedic rituals. The new bridge, being built at a cost of ₹92.89 crore (₹9289.41 lakh), is scheduled for completion by June 2027. A large number of locals attended the event and expressed gratitude to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the regional MLA for the initiative.

Dr. Bora explained that the 111-year-old existing red bridge had been closed to heavy vehicles, causing inconvenience to commuters. He noted that the double-engine government has provided a major relief to the region’s population by approving this new bridge. The upcoming structure, designed similarly to the previously constructed arch bridge, will span approximately 180 meters in length and 20 meters in width, with footpaths on both sides and a 326-meter approach road.

Dr. Bora also shared the historical background of the site, stating that in 1780, Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula of Awadh had constructed a royal stone bridge at this very location and imposed a toll tax for crossing it. After the Revolt of 1857, the British took control of the Awadh kingdom. Citing structural weakness in the existing royal bridge, they demolished it in 1911 and commenced the construction of a new one. The bridge was inaugurated on January 10, 1914, by then Viceroy of India Lord Hardinge, who served from 1910 to 1916. This bridge is also known as the Harding Bridge, but is more commonly referred to by locals as the Pakka Pul or Lal Pul.

During the bhoomi poojan, MLA Dr. Neeraj Bora was joined by former BJP city president Manohar Singh, Ramprakash Shukla, Ramauthar Kanojia, Saurabh Valmiki, Mandal presidents Daya Shankar Pandey, Raman Nigam, Chandrashekhar Gupta, Shailendra Maurya, Sanjay Tiwari, councilor Munna Mishra, Ranjeet Singh, Anurag Mishra Annu, Awadhesh Tripathi, Ramudas Kanojia, C.B. Singh, Sudarshan Katiyar, Satyadev Singh, Ankush Bajpai, Man Singh Yadav, Musavvir Manshu, Prithvi Gupta, Pradeep Shukla, Rajkumari Maurya, Durgesh Pandey, Ayush Valmiki, Saif Khan, former councilor Kumkum Rajput, former Mandal president Ramsharan Singh, Vishal Gupta, Lavkush Trivedi, Sunil Singh, Rakesh Pandey, Rajendra Tripathi, Satish Baheliya, Baijnath Tiwari, Dinesh Chaurasia, Santosh Saxena, Rishi Kapoor, Virendra Maurya, Mahesh Gupta, Pradeep Gupta Prince, Sunil Agrawal, Prashant Verma, Satish Dwivedi, Ravi Gupta, Sheelu Jaiswal, Pankaj Shankhnadi, Anil Mishra, Mala Nigam, Rita Singh, Shubhi Singh, Gudia Nigam, Harshika Jaiswal and many others. Officials and engineers from the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation and laborers involved in the construction also attended the ceremony in large numbers.