Howrah Bridge in Kolkata

• About Kolkata

The most majestic structure that defines Kolkata to the rest of the world is certainly the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata. Built during the British rule between 1937 and 1943, the Howrah Bridge runs along the width of the river Hoogly at a stretch of 450 m. The bridge is the living testimony of engineering and technological brilliance of the modern age. Kolkata, then known as Calcutta was the capital of British Raj and Howrah, its adjacent city was a thriving industrial hub. In order to connect the twin cities, construction of the Howrah Bridge was conceptualized.



The bridge is technically termed as a cantilever truss bridge and is constructed based on the process of riveting with the usage of a single nut-bolt. At the sight of the gigantic bridge, Rudyard Kipling remarked on Howrah Bridge "Why, this is London! This is the docks. This is imperial. This is worth coming across India to see!" So far reaching is its fame, the Howrah Bridge stands with equal prestige as the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge.



The following are some interesting facts and figures of Howrah Bridge.

• The ridge was opened in 1943 and the total cost estimated for its construction was Rs.333 crores.
• The bridge was constructed with 26,500 tons of steel.
• Everyday the bridge carries about 2 million commuters that include 150,000 vehicles and 4,000,000 pedestrians.
• It measures about 270 ft in height and 1528 ft in length.
• Accounted as the biggest floating structure in India. The suspended cantilevers are of 1500 feet and deck is of 71 feet. There are two stretches of pedestals on either side of the bridge each of 15 feet.
• The British companies who were involved with the construction of the Bridge are Rendel Palmer & Tritton and Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Co. Ltd.
• On 14 June 1965, the bridge was renamed as Rabindra Setu after the name of Bengal's greatest poet of all ages Rabindranath Tagore.
• To relieve the historical bridge from increasing traffic, two other bridges were later built. Vidyasagar Setu and the Vivekananda Setu run parallel to the majestic Howrah Bridge.

Though the bridge is open throughout the day, but the best time to visit the bridge is during the early hours of morning. The traffic at that time is less and you will get to enjoy the dawn with a scenic view of the wide stretch of the holy Ganga. An enthralling scene of countless number of people taking bath and offering prayers beside one of Asia's largest flower markets gives you the essence of the vibrating affairs of life. The splendor of the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata gets highlighted when the entire bridge is illuminated at night.