New Delhi: After decades of neglect and encroachment, the historic Barapullah Bridge will reopen for the public by Feb, following an extensive conservation exercise by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).The 17th-century Mughal-era bridge near Nizamuddin is currently closed behind iron gates to protect the structure and prevent fresh encroachments. Officials said the gates would remain even after the reopening as the monument would be accessible only to pedestrians, with vehicles barred permanently to preserve its structural integrity. Superintending archaeologist RK Patel of ASI’s Delhi Circle said the conservation work was largely complete, with only minor finishing touches left. “A few areas require some small-scale masonry work and should take around two weeks to finish,” he said.Officials said the most difficult part of the restoration was clearing long-standing encroachments. For nearly two decades, a market of unauthorised vendors occupied the core monument area while nearby residents used parts of the bridge as a dumping ground. In 2024, following directions from lieutenant governor VK Saxena, more than 120 illegal sellers were removed. “Once the encroachments were cleared, ASI immediately secured and barricaded the monument and began the conservation work,” Patel said. A structural assessment found the bridge to be largely intact, though some sections were partially damaged due to the prolonged exposure and misuse. ASI addressed most of these issues, including excavation and restoration of debris-covered protective walls on both sides of the bridge. To prevent misuse, iron gates were installed at both ends — one near Nizamuddin station, completed in Sept 2024, and another facing Jangpura, finished last Feb.The project began in late Dec in 2024. According to the project report, ASI removed over 600 cubic metres of bituminous surface and more than 1,500 cubic metres of old plaster through mechanical intervention. Restoration was carried out using traditional materials and techniques, including random rubble masonry and lime mortar mixed with natural binders such as gur, bel giri and gum, officials said.While ASI handled the structural conservation, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Development Authority were responsible for cleaning and landscape development around the monument. Patel said the protection and preservation of heritage required coordination among all stakeholders. “Conservation cannot be done in isolation. It works only when agencies act together,” he added.The bridge stands about one kilometre east of Khan-i-Khanan’s Tomb, along the old Mathura Road. Its distinctive design features 11 arched spans supported by 12 piers, giving it the name Barapullah or 12-pillared bridge. The structure spans 195 metres and is 14 metres wide, with each pier topped by a two-metre-high minar.Historical records show the bridge was built in 1621-22 under the patronage of Mihr Banfi Agha, a senior court official during the reign of Emperor Jahangir. It once served as a key crossing for Mughal rulers travelling from Agra to Nizamuddin Dargah and Humayun’s Tomb, and was regarded as one of the finest bridges of the time.Officials said the reopening would mark a significant step in reclaiming Delhi’s built heritage and making a long-neglected monument accessible to the public again.
