Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Pontoon Floating Bridge Cost | Load Capacity | Pontoon made of 5 tons of iron does not sink: Built by Persian engineers 2500 years ago; Story of floating flyovers in Mahakumbh

Most of the pontoon bridges are being built near the Sangam, so that it becomes easier for the devotees.

10 bridges are being built in one and a half kilometers Passing through the parade ground we reached the Kumbh Mela area. A total of 10 pontoon bridges have been built here in an area of ​​about one and a half kilometers between Sangam and Jhunsi fly-over. We reached near the pontoon bridge and talked to the workers who were building it.

Amit Kumar Gaur, who is building Pipa bridge, says – We have got the work of building two bridges. Both are side by side. We, about 100 people, have been working to build these two bridges for the last one month. We asked how does your work start? Amit replies- Pontoon comes here through truck. Then it is lowered with the help of a crane. After this, some of our friends put two pontoons together and set gutters on top of them. Put on nuts and bolts. After this it is pushed into the river by means of Hydra.

This picture is a month old, when the pontoon bridge was being lifted by crane to be inserted into the Ganga.

Kamata Nishad, who was working here, used to drive the boat earlier. Now let’s build a pontoon bridge. We asked Kamta why it doesn’t break? Kamta says based on his understanding – Its process is very different. Engineers make it by looking at many things. There is nothing filled inside it. This is also made on the same model as the big boats. Therefore, despite heavy weight, it does not sink.

We stayed here for some time. Reached the bridges being built nearby. The work seemed to be progressing on the basis of a process. A pontoon was installed every 5 meters. That means a 100 meter bridge requires 20 pontoons. A large piece of wood along with a 20-20 meter long thick rope is placed in the water on either side of the pontoon. Workers say that after some time this part of the wood will sink in the sand. The pontoon will not move from here to there.

Loamy soil is being poured over the bridges on which wood has been laid. Then sand is being poured on it. Strong iron angles of 4 feet each are being installed on both sides. After this it will be tightened with wires. Finally, checkered plates (pieces of metal) will be installed on the bridge. Pontoon bridges will be one-way in this Kumbh. This means that you will not be able to come back from the pontoon through which you go to the other side of the river. This decision has been taken due to the crowd in the fair.

The bridge cannot bear a load of more than 5 tons The question arises, how much weight can a pontoon bridge carry? For this, we reached Trivenipuram Katka via pontoon bridge from Sangam. There is a pontoon store here. The pontoon goes from here to different parts of the fair. Here many pontoons are seen kept in an open field. We met Supervisor Gagan Arora. He has been in pontoon related work for 15-20 years. Gagan’s maternal uncle Sardar Devender Singh has the responsibility of taking all the pontoon bridges to the river.

Gagan says- All pontoons are made in Prayagraj only. From here, supplies are made to Kumbh and entire UP. A pontoon lasts comfortably for 15-20 years. We asked how does the fair authority contact you? Gagan says that the contractors building the bridge contact us. All deals are done with them.

30 pontoon bridges built for Rs 17 crore 31 lakh We found out what is the budget to build 30 bridges? It was revealed that a total budget of Rs 17 crore 31 lakh was fixed for this. A surprising information was found that contractors are not ready to build it. The fair administration had invited applications from June 20, 2024. No application came. The tender was floated between 12th and 17th August. No one was ready for that either. When the tender was opened for the third time, one tender each was made for 11 bridges. Of these, 3 came from Prayagraj and 8 from other districts.

The highest budget of the pontoon bridge connecting Nagavasuki to Jhunsi is Rs 1 crore 13 lakh. Apart from this, the budget of Gangeshwar Bridge is Rs 89 lakh, Bhardwaj Bridge is Rs 88 lakh, Chakramadhav is Rs 73 lakh. Apart from this, all the bridges are being built with a budget of Rs 50 to 70 lakh. Those who have got the contract to build the bridge have also been given the responsibility of maintaining it for the next 3 months.

My question was that when the fair is over, where will such a large number of ready pontoons be kept? What will it be used for? Engineer says- Earlier they were kept here in the parade ground. But this time the department has taken a place in Kanihar near Sarainayat, stores will be kept there. Some will also be kept at Trivenipuram and Parade Ground. Apart from this, the MPs and MLAs of the areas of UP where a temporary bridge is required on the river also demand this. They are also allotted. Pontoons go from here.

Why does a pontoon made of 5 tons of iron not sink? We wanted to understand the principle that despite weighing 5 thousand 269 kg, how does it remain floating in water? Engineers say- Archimedes’ principle of physics is used in this. Each pontoon can support a load equal to the mass of water it displaces. The heavier the pontoon is, the more weight it can support. Meaning, if there is a load of more than 5 tons on it then it can sink and break. While building a bridge, pontoons are connected to each other with gutters. Even on the bridge, the crowd is asked to move continuously instead of gathering.

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