REVIEW OF EXISTING BRIDGE SYSTEM IN SMALL RIVERS IN ALLUVIAL REGIONS OF UTTAR PRADESH

Abstract

From early days, people use techniques to cross the rivers, streams or any depression without closing or
obstacle the way beneath.This type of structure called bridge.With the advancement of civil engineering several types
of bridges came into existence. They may be like wooden, steel, masonry arches,RCC and prestressed concrete
bridges. Indian Roads Congress categories three types of the bridges lengthwise i.e. culverts up to 6.0 m, minor
bridges above 6.0 m to maximum 60.0 m length and major bridges above 60.0 m. In present scenario minor bridges
are provided over small rivers are symbol of development and prosperity of any region as most of the roads have to
cross small rivers at several places. Bridges are always been an important part of environment too because most of
cases water flowing below is used for drinking, irrigation and underground recharging. Specially in the alluvial
region of India spread from Punjab to West Bengal has peculiar nature. The soil is almost soft in nature mostly sand,
clay and silt, very fertile for vegetation.Water retention and movement condition arealso very high throughout the
year. The population of human being is very dense most part of this land asbeing culturable. There are several type of
water bodies exist in this region such as pond, small drain, small and medium rivers which fell into the big rivers like
Ganga, Yamuna, Ghahgra, Gomti and Sai etc. These rivers are originated from Himalayas or foot hills of Himalaya
and outfall at Bay of Bengal. More than 100 years, a road system for earthen track and pucca has been introduced for
traffic like chart, chariot and motorised vehicle. There were little number of bridges over major riversexist i.e. bridge
alone to cross over the river Ganga except in few places like Allahabad, Kanpur and Varanasi and over the Ghaghra
Algine bridge, Maghighat, Bhatni. But some bridges has constructed over small and medium rivers by Muslim local
rulers and business men which now become obsolete.It is found that most of the bridges are of masonry arches
wooden and trusses has insufficient water and carriage way. After independence the road network system has been
improved to meet out socioeconomic need of people the new bridges has been constructed with standard road width
and sufficient water way.Study has been conducted for existing new constructed bridge system over small river and
alluvial region of Uttar Pradesh to set guidance in future course of action in replacing and providing new bridges to
optimise the need of people.
For this purpose as a particular case for study of small river Reth having maximum discharge 106 cumecs traversing
about 96.2 km of district Sitapur, Lucknow and Barabanki of Uttar Pradesh has been taken into consideration.The
bridge system over this river provided for the road network of the area is almost new and replacement of older bridge.
The replacement of the bridges at different site is varying place to place.