Howrah Bridge Kolkata (Timings, History, Entry Fee, Built by)
Kolkata is synonymous with the Howrah Bridge, which has been the symbol of the City of Joy since ancient times. The sixth-longest suspended span cantilever bridge in the world, it is one of Bengal’s early engineering and architectural wonders.
Without any pillars to maintain its suspension over the Hooghly River, the Howrah Bridge has withstood the test of time for 76 years. During that time, it has seen many historical events, including World War II. Bengal’s history and culture are symbolised by this landmark, which links Kolkata and Howrah. Anyone entering Kolkata must cross this bridge, which serves as the city’s gateway, in order to travel to other areas of the state.
In 1965, the bridge was formally renamed Rabindra Setu, after the renowned poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore, but it is still known as Howrah Bridge. It is 705 meters long, with eight lanes combined, 97 meters wide, and serves as a gateway to approximately 200,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians daily, making it the busiest cantilever bridge in the world.
In February 2018, the bridge commemorated its 75th anniversary. The Kolkata Port Trust authorities decked it with flags of various colours.
History of Howrah Bridge
The First Howrah Bridge
The history of Howrah Bridge begins in 1862, when Calcutta, the British Indian capital at the time, began to get busier every day. Since the Hooghly River divided the two main districts of Howrah and Calcutta, it became crucial to have good connectivity between them. Following the establishment of the Calcutta Port Trust in 1870 and the passage of the Howrah Bridge Act in 1871, the first pontoon bridge connecting the two locations was finished in 1874. The bridge’s components were imported from England and put together in India. With 2.1-meter pavements on either side, this bridge measured 465.7 meters in length and 19 meters in width.
Due to its lower level, the bridge required frequent unfastenings to allow steamers and other water transportation to cross. Although this bridge was functional for the time being, it was not sturdy enough to support the weight of heavy traffic or withstand inclement weather. Therefore, the Port Commissioners recognised the necessity for a strong substitute and proposed the construction of a more durable bridge.
The New Howrah Bridge
The 1906 committee determined that a floating bridge should be constructed in order to meet the high traffic requirements that the new bridge had to handle. A price was established for the winner of the best design and building plan when tenders were opened. Due to World War I, this entire concept was put on hold.
A second committee, the “Mukherjee Committee,” was established in 1921 to continue construction on the New Howrah Bridge following World War I. It was composed of a group of engineers under the direction of Sir R. N. Mukherjee. When they discussed the study with Sir Basil Mott, he recommended that Hooghly be crossed by a single span arch bridge.
The Cleveland Bridge and Engineering corporation Ltd., a British corporation, was awarded the whole contract for the work after the Mukherjee Committee presented its report to the recently established New Howrah Bridge Commission. Mr. Walton, the main draughtsman for M/s. Rendel, Palmer, and Tritton, created the new bridge’s final design based on the 1930 Goode committee’s suggestions. A local business, Braithwaite Burn & Jessop Construction Company Limited, was chosen to be the steel works subcontractor.
The bridge’s construction was finished in 1942, and on February 3, 1943, it was made accessible to cars. A single tram was the first vehicle to operate across the recently constructed Howrah Bridge.
Architecture of Howrah Bridge
The Howrah Bridge’s architecture is a wonder in and of itself, having been constructed without the use of any nuts or bolts. The whole thing is riveting. The bridge was officially designated as a “Suspension Type Balanced Cantilever” since it was one of a kind and unlike any other bridge in the world when it was constructed. When it was put into service, it was the third-longest cantilever bridge.
The bridge deck swings from 39 pairs of hangers that are suspended from the main trusses. Only 3,000 of the 20,000 tonnes of steel needed to build the bridge came from England; the remainder 23,000 tonnes of high tension steel, known as TISCROM, were commissioned from Tata Steel.
Single monolith caissons were used in the construction of the main tower. The entire project was completed underground. By 1938, the foundation was finished, and by the middle of the summer of 1941, the cantilevered arms were in place. The suspended span is 282 feet long and weights 2000 tonnes each.
The cost of the entire project was 25 million (GBP 2,463,887).
The World Wars
Coincidentally, both World Wars have a connection to the history of Howrah Bridge. Due to the First World War, the original 1906 plan to replace the ageing Pontoon bridge with a new Howrah bridge was put on hold.
The expectation of a likely Second World War further delayed the bridge’s construction, even after the New Howrah Bridge Act was established in 1922 and international tenders were issued in 1930.
England was unable to provide the quantity of steel needed to construct the bridge since it had to redirect its steel supply for war purposes, and only 3,000 of the 26,000 tonnes of steel needed could be sent from England. Ultimately, the Calcutta Port Trust engaged Tata Steel to supply the final 23,000 tonnes of steel. 23,000 tonnes of high tension steel, dubbed TISCROM, were provided by Tata Steel.
Despite the government’s dread of Japanese strikes, the bridge’s construction proceeded. Because of this anxiety, the bridge was opened quietly without a formal inauguration ceremony. Japanese fighter planes made numerous unsuccessful efforts to demolish the bridge, but the 978 Balloon Squadron’s quick response in setting up enormous balloons connected to the ground by steel cables allowed the bridge to survive. Fighter planes would crash after becoming entangled in the cables, but these balloons prevented the planes from lowering sufficiently to hit the target.
Trams were prohibited from using the bridge in 1993 as a result of increased foot traffic and traffic congestion.
How to Reach Howrah Bridge
‘Gateway to Kolkata’ is what the name implies: Howrah Bridge. Howrah Junction Railway Station is just a short distance away from where it begins. To experience moving through this architectural wonder, one can choose to stroll or use a cab.
Nearby Places to Visit