The Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has announced that the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Bridge, located near the Naval Dockyard, will be closed to traffic for extensive repairs. The closure is expected to last for at least nine months.

Initially scheduled to begin on April 1, 2024, the repair work was postponed due to the onset of the 2024 elections and other reasons. Now, the repairs are set to commence within a day or two. During this period, the bridge, a vital link between the industrial area and the main city, will be inaccessible to all vehicles, including two-wheelers and ambulances.

Commuters will need to take an alternative route opposite the dockyard gate, which will add an extra six kilometers to their journey. This diversion is necessary to ensure the safety and integrity of the bridge structure.

Back in September 2019, the Visakhapatnam Port had closed the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Bridge to heavy vehicles based on recommendations from the Chennai-based consultant CSIR-SERC. Their field investigations and load tests revealed that the bridge's load rating was only suitable for light motor vehicles.

The VPA has already notified the management of various industries, the RTC, district officials, and the police about the impending closure. This advance notice aims to help commuters and local authorities plan accordingly and minimize disruption during the repair period.