India is the land of canals, big dams, beautiful lakes and several rivers. So how can bridges be ignored?
The below discussed famous bridges in India play an extremely vital role to make our country have the second biggest network of road transport globally.
Let us have a look at some of the most beautiful bridges in India:
Most Popular bridges in India
1 Vidyasagar Setu
Vidyasagar Setu is popularly known as ‘Second Hooghly Bridge’. It is one of the most famous bridges in India having been constructed in the recent years.
The bridge links the city of Kolkata with the twin city of Howrah over the famous Hooghly River in West Bengal. Though vehicles that cross this bridge have to pay toll tax, there is no such tax on the bicycles.
Vidyasagar Setu is one of the longest bridges in Asia and one of the longest bridges in its category in India.
The bridge has been named after Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was one of the greatest reformists of Bengal in the 19th century. There are several sister bridges of the Vidyasagar Setu such as the famous Howrah Bridge and the Vivekananda Setu.
Bridge History
The construction of this bridge began in 1978 and it was inaugurated on 10th October, 1992. It has a width of 35 meters and a span of about 457 meters. The contractors who were given the charge for construction of this famous bridge are called Braithwaite Burn and Jessop or BBJ.
Speciality
The bridge has been designed in such a manner that it is the first of its kind in India. The two spans of this bridge are being supported by 182.88 meter long parallel wire cables. The bridge is indeed one of the defining structures of the contemporary Kolkata.
2 Pamban Railway Bridge
This is a famous railway bridge that links Rameswaram on Pambaram Island to the Indian mainland and is built on the Palk Strait. It is unique and among the most famous bridges in India.
The bridge refers to the cantilever railway bridge as well as the road bridge though it actually means the former.
Bridge History
The construction of the bridge started in the year 1911 and it was eventually opened for public on 14th February, 1914.
Pamban Railway Bridge is the first sea bridge of India and enjoyed the status of India’s longest bridge till the Bandra-Worli Sea Link was opened in the year 2010.
Speciality
Mostly, this well-known rail bridge is a traditional bridge that rests on concrete piers; however, it features a double leaf bascule section midway that is flexible enough to be raised so that both barges and ships can smoothly pass through. There is a road bridge that is adjacent to it and was opened for public in the year 1988.
According to the chief construction engineer of the Indian Railways, the bridge is situated in the second most corrosive environment in the world after Florida and thus maintaining this bridge is a major challenge. The location also suffers from other weakness as it is a high wind velocity and a cyclone-prone zone.
3 Chenab Arch Bridge
Chenab Bridge is a railway bridge which is under-construction and is situated between Kauri and Bakkal in the district of Reasi in Jammu & Kashmir, India.
The bridge after a completion, is sure to get included among the important, highest and famous bridges in India.
Bridge Dimensions
The bridge when built will be 1,315 meter long and is being constructed at a great height of 359 meters.
After its construction will be over, Chenab Arch Bridge will have the distinct of becoming world’s tallest bridge.
Speciality
The bridge will tentatively cost about $92 million is a part of JUSBRL or Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Line project that is a major undertaking of the Ministry of Indian Railways. Chenab Arch Bridge will feature a central verge of 1.2 meter width and a 14 meter wide dual carriage way.
This ambitious project will be tentatively completed by March, 2016 and is supposed to last for around 120 years. The bridge is tipped to contribute towards Jammu & Kashmir’s development and aid in providing improved accessibility to transportation not only with the state but also within India.
4 Kandrour Bridge
The Bridge is constructed over River Sutlej and is located in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh in a village called Kandraur.
Kandrour bridge has a height of 80 meters while is length is about 280 meters. The bridge is located between Ghumarwin and Bilaspur to be precise.
History of Bridge
The construction of the Kandrour Bridge began in 1959 and its construction was eventually over in the year 1964.
The bridge has a breadth of approximately 7 meters while is length is 255 meters. The bridge is constructed at a height of 60 meters from the bed of the river.
Speciality
This bridge has the distinction of being one of world’s highest bridges and enjoys the first rank in Asia in term of its height.
There are limestone rocks that surround this bridge and pieces of the rocks keep floating on River Sutlej. The bridge enables 2 ways traffic on it.
Kandrour Bridge acts as a link between the Hamirpur District and Bilaspur District in Himachal Pradesh.
The bridge is situated at a distance of approximately 8 km from the district of Bilaspur and is situated on the National Highway 88.
5 Bandra-Worli Sea Link
The official name for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link is a beautiful bridge that has been constructed with concrete steel material that links Worli in posh South Mumbai to Bandra which is one of the most happening Western Suburbs of the city of Mumbai.
Bandra-Worli Sea Link is part of the planned Western Freeway that would connect Nariman Point, which is the main business hub of the city with the Western Suburbs of the city.
The bridge cost about US $240 million and was constructed by the Hindustan Construction Company while the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation commissioned it.
History
On 30th June, 2009, the four of its 8 lanes were opened for the first time to Mumbai’s public. ON 24th March, 2010, all its 8 lanes were removed for the vehicles.
Speciality
The aim of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is to reduce the travelling time between Worli and Bandra from about an hour or 9 minutes to about 30 minutes during peak hours.
In October, 2009, the bridge had a mean daily traffic about 37,500 vehicles on it.
6 Jubilee Bridge (Cantilever Bridge)
This is a vital rail bridge that has been constructed over River Hooghly and is located between Bandel and Naihatii in the state of West Bengal in India.
History of Jubilee Bridge
It was 16th February, 1887 when Jubilee Bridge was opened and this was Queen Victoria’s 50th jubilee year.
In the year 1882, the construction of Jubilee Bridge started while it got over in the year 1887. Lt. Col Arthur John Barry who was Sir John Wolfe Barry’s nephew was the Chief Engineer of construction while Sir Bradford Leslie designed this beautiful bridge.
Speciality
The steel used in this bridge was manufactured by James Godwin of Motherwell in Scotland and Hawks Crawshay of Gateshead in England.
The specialty about the Jubilee Bridge is that it is a cantilever truss bridge that has been built without any bolts or nuts.
There are plans of phasing out this bridge and a rail bridge named the Sampreeti Bridge is being constructed right adjacent to the existing bridge.
7Godavari Arch Bridge
Anonther among the very famous bridges in India is a bowstring-girder bridge that is constructed over the Godavari River in Rajahmundry in India.
It is one of the three latest bridges over River Godavari at Rajamundhry. It is one of the longest bridges in Asia made of prestressed concrete arch bridge.
The bridge is situated in two channels i.e. the Rajamundhry and the Kovvur channel and hence is also called Kovvur-Rajahmundry Bridge. The bridge is located at a distance of about 2.5 km from the Rajahmundry Railway Station.
Godavari Bridge History
It has been commissioned by Indian Railways and was inaugurated in 1974 by Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the then president of India. It is the second longest road-cum Rail Bridge in Asia that crosses a water body.
It is a beautiful bridge with wonderful views of River Godavari.
Thus, from the above segment it is clear that India boasts of some of the best bridges and flyovers in the world.
All the bridges discussed above have their unique characteristics that make them enjoy a distinct status in terms of infrastructure in India.
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