for an 11-year break, the historic Howrah Bridge, which spans the Hooghly River and links the twin towns of Howrah and Kolkata, will get a thorough health inspection, according to a senior official of the Kolkata port, which looks for the building.
According to Kolkata Port Chairman Rathendra Raman, a thorough evaluation of the cantilever bridge’s health would be conducted in conjunction with IIT Chennai.
Journal for Howrah Bridge
In addition to the bridge’s regular maintenance, the suggested exercise would be carried out, he added.
“Since there hasn’t been a comprehensive investigation of the Howrah Bridge’s condition in over ten years, we’ve made the decision to perform one now. We will learn important lessons from this research that will help us extend the life of the bridge,” Raman said on Wednesday.
An in-depth examination of the bridge’s health was previously performed 11 years ago with the assistance of RITES, according to another official.
The Howrah Bridge in detail
Since its opening in 1943, the Howrah Bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu, has been regarded as a symbol of Kolkata. It is 405 meters in length and 21.6 meters in width.
After a committee led by Sir R N Mukherjee proposed a certain style of suspension bridge be erected over the Hoogly river in 1926, the bridge’s construction was started.
The upkeep efforts
The bituminous road surface on the 80-year-old structure had already begun to be removed by the port authority, and a fresh layer will be put to lessen the weight on the bridge.
The port chairman said that the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC), a part of IIT Chennai, would advise the authorities for the thorough investigation.Tags
Raman promised that the port authorities will be given assistance with the project by appointing a different expert consultant if required.
About 80,000 cars and 400,000 people use the Howrah Bridge each day, making it an essential component of their daily lives.
Another top official said that the Kolkata port, currently called as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, intends to secure the bridge’s future and preserve the technical wonder because of the bridge’s enormous significance.
The study’s focus has not yet been decided, but specialists will extensively evaluate problems like corrosion and fatigue that the bridge has experienced, he added.
The official said, “The objective is to identify efficient strategies to address these issues and to ensure the longevity of the bridge.”
