Kanpur: Commuters travelling between Prayagraj and Jhunsi finally got relief on Thursday as traffic resumed on the repaired carriageway of Shastri Bridge after more than six weeks of restrictions. However, the reopening also triggered heavy traffic congestion during the morning rush hour before the situation was brought under control by noon.The Public Works Department (PWD) completed resurfacing and repair work on the nearly 2-km Daraganj-to-Jhunsi carriageway on Thursday morning, following which the traffic police reopened the lane for vehicular movement.The restored lane has been opened to light vehicles, including two-wheelers, cars and other small four-wheelers. Officials said the resumption of two-way traffic is expected to significantly ease congestion that commuters had been facing since one carriageway was closed for repairs on June 3.Soon after the reopening, long queues of office-goers, school buses and other vehicles were seen on both approaches to the bridge during peak morning hours. Traffic police personnel regulated the flow, and the congestion was largely cleared by around noon.During the repair period, traffic was restricted to a single carriageway, while heavy vehicles were diverted through alternate routes, leading to frequent traffic jams on Shastri Bridge, Phaphamau Bridge and adjoining roads.PWD officials said the repair work, undertaken at an estimated cost of around Rs 15 crore, was completed within the scheduled timeframe. Assistant Engineer K S Srivastava said the road construction work concluded late on July 15, enabling authorities to reopen the carriageway for commuters on Thursday morning.According to officials, both carriageways of the bridge will remain open to light vehicles until July 29, providing nearly two weeks of smoother travel between Prayagraj and Jhunsi. However, the relief will be temporary. From July 30, coinciding with the beginning of the holy month of Shravan, the newly repaired Jhunsi-bound carriageway will again be closed for about a month and reserved exclusively for Kanwariyas undertaking the annual pilgrimage. Traffic arrangements will be modified accordingly.Heavy vehicles will continue to remain barred from using the bridge and will be allowed only after the prevailing no-entry restrictions are lifted, officials said.
