Month-long Kharun bridge repairs to disrupt Raipur-Durg traffic from April 1

Raipur: Month-long Kharun bridge repairs from April 1 to slow the busy Raipur-Durg commute; one-way traffic, diversions, and an additional 15-20 minutes expected. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will begin repair work on the Kharun river bridge on National Highway 53 (NH-53), connecting Durg and Raipur, from April 1, 2026. The maintenance project is expected to take approximately one month. The distance between the two cities by road is about 35-40 km.The bridge, located near the Kumhari toll plaza, is a vital link between the two cities and sees a daily traffic volume of nearly 1.5 lakh vehicles. To manage the anticipated congestion and long queues during the repair period, the Raipur police and NHAI officials have finalised a comprehensive traffic diversion plan.Additional DCP (Traffic) Vivek Shukla, along with ACP Satish Thakur, ACP Seema Ahirwar and officials from the NHAI and local police stations, inspected the repair site and diversion routes on Sunday. Traffic on the bridge will be restricted to one-way operations for the duration of the work.The authorities have designated the stretch from Kumhari toll plaza to Chandnidih as a one-way zone. Light vehicles, including cars and motorcycles travelling from Raipur to Durg, can take a left turn at Chandnidih village to use the old bridge (rapta) to reach the toll plaza. Alternatively, they may use the Bhatagaon-Amleshwar-Motipur route.The Raipur Traffic Police has urged citizens to follow all traffic signs and avoid overtaking on the single-lane bridge. Commuters heading for essential services, including hospitals, the airport, railway stations or competitive examinations, are advised to factor in extra travel time during the repair period.Shukla told TOI that the travel time between the two cities is usually 45 minutes to one hour by car, depending on traffic. With one-way movement in place, the commute is expected to slow down and may take an additional 15-20 minutes."We will deploy 15-20 traffic personnel to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. Volunteers from the concerned contractor will also be present and they will assist us in maintaining smooth traffic flow," Shukla said.There are two parallel bridges over the river; one will undergo repairs while the other will remain operational. Once work on the first bridge is completed and it is reopened to traffic, repairs on the second bridge will begin, he added.Diversion plan The traffic department has suggested the following routes for commuters travelling from Durg to Raipur:For Raipur Airport and Naya Raipur: Commuters heading towards the airport, Mantralaya, Police Headquarters, Arang or Abhanpur should use the Selud-Patan-Abhanpur route.From Bhilai and Risali: Travellers from Durg, Bhilai, Risali and Utai are advised to take the Selud-Phunda-Jamgaon-Motipur-Amleshwar route.From Charoda and Kumhari: Those travelling from Charoda and Bhilai-3 should use the Sirsa Gate-Motipur-Amleshwar road.Local Kumhari traffic: Commuters from Kumhari and Ahirwara may use the Kumhari-Urla-Khamariya-Amleshwar route.