The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started preliminary work on the fifth Metro bridge over river Yamuna. The 560 meters long new bridge will come upon the Majlis Park – Maujpur Metro corridor of Phase 4 of Delhi Metro and will connect the Soorghat Metro Station and the Sonia Vihar Metro Station. At present, there are four bridges of Delhi Metro on the Yamuna river.
“After carrying out a geotechnical investigation at the location of proposed piers, the activity of casting of test piles is in progress. To utilize available time during this monsoon season, a cofferdam away from the active course of Yamuna has been constructed by raising the level of the ground by filling of earth and sand from the nearby areas with the protection of its slope through bamboo, jute netting, and sandbags. The level of cofferdam has been kept the same as the level of adjacent road to ensure supply of requisite construction material like steel reinforcement, metal liner, ready mix concrete, etc,” DMRC said in a press release.
This bridge will come up between two existing bridges on Yamuna i.e. Wazirabad Bridge and the Signature Bridge. This will be the first-ever Metro bridge over the Yamuna to be built using the Cantilever construction method. A cantilever is a rigid structural element which extends horizontally and is supported at only one end. Typically it extends from a flat, vertical surface such as a wall or pier, to which it must be firmly attached. Cantilever construction allows overhanging structures without additional support. The employment of this technology will make the bridge look aesthetically better.
The design of the bridge was finalized using the ‘Building Information Modeling’ (BIM) technology. With the help of this technology, a 3D model of the bridge was uploaded with intricate details of the proposed structure. For the finalization of the Phase 4 designs, DMRC’s engineers are using the BIM platform, through which they have been able to finalize the designs even during the days of the pandemic when physical meetings weren’t possible. This bridge crosses river Yamuna at about 385m downward of old Wazirabad Bridge and 213m upstream of existing Signature Bridge.
All mandatory approvals from the concerned agencies have been obtained for the construction of the bridge. DMRC is committed to fulfilling the conditions given by the Principal Committee on the Yamuna for construction of the bridge.
Metro Bridges over River Yamuna Constructed so far:
1) Yamuna Bank on Blue Line – 698.8 meters
2) Nizamuddin on Pink Line – 602.8 meters
3) Kalindi Kunj on Magenta Line – 574 meters
4) Shastri Park on Red Line- 553 meters