Kumbh pontoons to be used elsewhere in UP

The 18 pontoon bridges used during the 56-day Kumbh this year will be used to build temporary bridges in many parts of Uttar Pradesh.

The dismantling of these bridges will begin soon, officials of the public works department (PWD) said Wednesday.

Items used in these bridges including cans, chequered plates, girders, railing posts and sleepers would be distributed to places where they are required.

Requests from towns, villages and districts where there are no bridges on rivers have been asked for.

After due consideration, a list of such places has been finalized by the PWD department.

Topping the list is Kannauj, the parliamentary constituency of Dimple Yadav, wife of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Kannauj has cornered the maximum from the remnants of the Kumbh.

PWD officials said 55 pontoon drums, 308 girders and 550 railing posts among other things would be used to make a temporary pontoon bridge at Kusumpur ghat in Kannaj.

In all, the pontoon bridges, which had been made for the Kumbh in Allahabad, were used extensively by devotees to cross the Sangam where millions took a dip during the festival.