New Delhi: Pollution is not the only concern that Delhi is facing, it seems. According to the traffic police officers’ estimation, Delhi is short of pathways to tackle the traffic that is plying every day, especially in the densely populated east side.

According to the estimation, there are only 15 bridges, including those built by Delhi Metro and the railways, out of which only nine are used for road traffic. 

While traditional European cities usually have one bridge for every 500 metres, we are nowhere close to that standard. This, despite the fact that our population is much higher. By global standards, we require at least 40 bridges in Delhi,” said former PWD chief Sarwagya Srivastava, according to Times of India. 

The bridges across the Yamuna are, Wazirabad, old ITO bridge and Okhla, two railway bridges and two metro bridges, at Shastri Park and Yamuna Bank, old Wazirabad bridge, Signature Bridge and Pontoon Bridge.

“The mid-section of the river has Yudhisthir Setu near ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Shastri Park metro line bridge and, finally, the old Loha Pul,” a senior PWD official said, according to the website.

Recently, Delhi just got the iconic and much-awaited Signature Bridge on the river Yamuna. The bridge was inaugurated for the public on Monday. 

The bridge, connecting Wazirabad across the river, reduced travel time between north and northeast parts of the city from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes.

It also took vehicular pressure off the existing Wazirabad bridge.

"The bridge was handed over to the traffic police in the morning and the traffic was allowed to move over the bridge," a government official told IANS.

Claimed by the government to be country's first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge, with the gesture "Namaste", the bridge will help people enjoy a panoramic view of the city from 154-meter-high observation deck -- to open in around two months.

With inputs from PTI