Weather : N.A.
Time Required : 1-2 hours
Entry Fee : No entry fee
Built Over : Hooghly River
Official Name : Rabindra Setu
Length : 705 m
Height : 82 m
Width : 71 ft along with two footpaths of 4.6 m on either side
Functional Since : February 3, 1943
Also Refered As: Rabindra Setu
Overview of Howrah Bridge in Kolkata
Howrah Bridge, a sizable steel bridge built over the Hooghly River, is a well-known landmark of Kolkata. It is regarded as one of the world’s longest cantilever bridges. It connects Howrah and Kolkata and is also known as the Rabindra Setu. It is both grand and historic, carrying over 100,000 automobiles and countless pedestrians each day. However, when the bridge is fully lit up at night, its magnificence truly comes to life. From the launch ghat, you can also board a ferry that travels between Kolkata and Howrah. To put it mildly, the view of the city from the ferry is priceless, especially at night.
At the time of its completion, the Howrah Bridge was the third-longest cantilever bridge; today, it is the sixth-longest of its kind. On June 14, 1965, it was renamed Rabindra Setu in honour of Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore. It is 71 feet wide and extends over the Hooghly River by around 1500 feet. The route has eight lanes in total for cyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles. The fact that this bridge was constructed using only rivets and without a single nut or bolt gives it a special distinction.
History of Howrah Bridge
The Howrah Bridge is crucial to Kolkata’s survival. Construction on it began in 1939. The East India Company’s engineer was commissioned by the government of Bengal to develop a plan for a bridge over the Hooghly River, but the plan was never implemented. In 1874, Sir Bradford Leslie constructed a pontoon bridge. To accommodate the growing traffic across the Hooghly River, it had to be redone, though. As a result, the Howrah Bridge was built in 1942.This is why it was given the moniker New Howrah Bridge. The building project took seven years to complete, and in February 1943 it was eventually made public. The project’s chief engineer was Sir Rajendra Nath Mukherjee. Tata Steel provided the steel for the bridge.
The Howrah Bridge was built for a total of INR 333 crore. Its construction required 26,500 tonnes of steel. Although it currently goes by the name Rabindra Setu, the Howrah Bridge name is still widely used. A lone tram was the first vehicle to cross the bridge. The Howrah Junction Railway Station, the oldest railroad station in India, is located at the Howrah end of the bridge. As a result, the bridge is sometimes referred to as the entrance to Kolkata.
Construction of Howrah Bridge
The Braithwaite Burn and Jessop Construction Company Ltd. built the bridge, which was designed by Rendel, Palmer, and Tritton. Construction started in 1936 and was completed in 1942. The bridge was inaugurated on February 3rd, 1943. The anchor arm is 325 feet long, while each of the bridge’s pillars measures 468 feet. Nearly all of the traffic to and from Howrah Junction Railway Station is carried by it. This traffic is primarily composed of automobiles and buses. The load on the bridge is significantly more than anticipated. It is surrounded by wide sidewalks and thronged with pedestrians as a result.
The Kolkata Port Trust is in charge of maintaining the Howrah Bridge. Due to reckless driving by automobiles and atmospheric weathering, the bridge has sustained significant damage. Additionally, human spittle and bird droppings have contributed to corrosion. Cleaning it on a regular basis is the responsibility of the Kolkata Port Trust.
Howrah Bridge In Movies
The Howrah Bridge, the most prominent landmark in Kolkata, is of enormous cultural value. Numerous filmmakers have used this bridge as a focal point in their films because it is synonymous with this magnificent city. In films like Do Bigha Zamin, Parash Pathar, Neel Akasher Neechey, China Town, Amar Prem, Paar, and Ram Teri Ganga Maili, the Howrah Bridge appeared.This famous bridge has also appeared in a number of films that have won awards, including Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi and the Bengali film Calcutta 71, which won Mrinal Sen a National Award. In more recent years, films like Yuva, Parineeta, The Namesake, Love Aaj Kal, Kahaani, Barfi!, Gunday, and Piku have featured Howrah Bridge. Additionally, it was in the 2016 movie Lion, which was nominated for an Oscar.
