Howrah bridge | The history of howrah bridge

 The history of Howrah Bridge 

Howrah Bridge

The Howrah Bridge, India's most iconic landmark, is an engineering, historical, and cultural marvel. It crosses the Hooghly River in West Bengal, linking the cities of Howrah and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), and is a lifeline for millions of commuters every day. While commonly regarded as a humdrum bridge, the Howrah Bridge has a rich story of colonial aspiration, wartime necessity, technological advancement, and cultural heritage.

Origins and Need for a Bridge

The concept of a bridge across the Hooghly River goes back to the early 19th century. The river was a busy commercial and transport artery, and ferry operations were the sole methods of crossing from Calcutta to Howrah. With the establishment of the East India Company and the growth of the city of Calcutta as a commercial and administrative hub, the need for a safer and quicker means of connectivity grew.

It was in 1862 that the British government initiated a floating pontoon bridge of steel and wood, which was openable for allowing the passage of ships. It was built under the direction of the Port Commissioners of Calcutta and was built in 1874. Though functioning, the pontoon bridge was very tide and weather-dependent. Its carrying capacity was soon overwhelmed by the rapidly growing population and industrialization.

Planning the New Bridge By the early 20th century, it was evident that a permanent bridge had to be constructed to accommodate the growing traffic. In 1906, a committee was established to consider the feasibility of constructing a new bridge. World War I slowed the project considerably, but by 1921 a plan was sanctioned. The bridge was to be constructed under the auspices of the Howrah Bridge Commission, established in 1926.

The bridge construction was awarded to Braithwaite, Burn & Jessop Construction Company, one of the leading engineering companies well-rooted in India's industrial past. Mr. Walton of London's M/s. Rendel, Palmer and Tritton was the chief construction engineer. The bridge was to be constructed as a cantilever suspension bridge, a new and ambitious venture at that time.

Construction of the Bridge

The new bridge was constructed in 1936, and it took nearly six years to finish the construction. The most interesting fact about the Howrah Bridge is that it was constructed without a single screw and nut. Rather, over 26,000 tons of high-tensile alloy steel, supplied by Tata Steel, was used with rivets to construct the huge sections of the bridge.

Exclusion of nuts and bolts was technical and also strategic. The British desired a building that would be weather-resistant and capable of withstanding severe stress. The bridge was constructed employing the riveted truss technique, which was extremely strong and long-lasting. The second interesting point is that even though constructed during World War II, when resources were limited, the construction of the Howrah Bridge went on with unrelenting speed. But to avoid it being a target to be bombed from the air, particularly during the Burma Campaign, the bridge was not opened amidst any grandiose public ceremony.

The Bridge’s Completion and Opening

The bridge was finished in 1942 and opened to the public in February 1943. It was initially named the New Howrah Bridge so that it would not be mistaken for the old pontoon bridge. Since the old bridge was eventually dismantled, the "New" was removed, and it was known as the Howrah Bridge.

Ever since its inauguration, the bridge has been a main traffic artery connecting Howrah Railway Station—the most congested railway station in India—and the city of Kolkata. The bridge measures 705 meters in length and 71 feet in width with a 1,500-foot central span—the third longest cantilever bridge in the world when it was built. It was planned to accommodate a daily traffic of approximately 27,000 vehicles and a pedestrian movement of over 150,000 individuals. Nowadays, those figures have doubled more than that.

Engineering Achievement and Award

The Howrah Bridge is reported to be a civil engineering wonder and one of the most sophisticated bridges of its era. It is so unique in that it was built entirely by riveting without a single bolt or nut. The cantilever structure is perfectly balanced with no piers in the river, which is critical for river navigation.

The bridge is supported on two gigantic foundations 90 meters below the river bed, one of the deepest foundations in the world at the time of construction. The steel frame is so strong that despite the load of thousands of vehicles and humans, it has withstood years with hardly any alteration.

The bridge was formally renamed Rabindra Setu in 2005, after the Bengali Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. However, people use the Howrah Bridge name more commonly in everyday usage.

Cultural and Cinematic Significance

Besides its engineering and functional value, the Howrah Bridge also represents Kolkata identity. It has been extensively employed in Indian literature, photography, and cinema. Such iconic Bollywood films as Howrah Bridge (1958) featuring Madhubala and Ashok Kumar, and several others like Yuva, Kahaani, and Barfi, have utilized the bridge.

It is not simply a background but a living symbol that reflects the life of the busy city. From the morning fish market at Mallick Ghat under the bridge to the day-and-night stream of yellow Ambassador taxis, the Howrah Bridge is part of the daily life of the city of Kolkata.

Maintenance and Modern Day

It is a monumental task to maintain a bridge as old and busy as the Howrah Bridge. It is under the control of the Kolkata Port Trust, and the routine maintenance, painting, and structural checks are conducted by it. A survey in the early 2000s showed corrosion from bird droppings and pollution, and the maintenance routine became more intense.

Remarkably, with its decades, the bridge still holds up and has survived earthquakes, floods, and the sheer volume of ever-increasing traffic. In contrast to most older bridges across the world that must be replaced, the Howrah Bridge is still strong and reliable. 

Conclusion 

The Howrah Bridge is more than a piece of steel and rivets—its a memorial to India's colonial past, a witness to its struggle for independence, and a pulsating vein of the constantly changing city of Kolkata. As a beacon of engineering innovation and cultural resilience, the Howrah Bridge continues to evoke awe and wonder, and remains one of India's most enduring icons.