Vivekananda Setu: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Steel multi-span road and railway bridge}}
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|caption      = Vivekananda Setu
|caption      = Vivekananda Setu
|official_name =  
|official_name =Vivekanada Setu
|carries      = Rail cum Road bridge
|carries      = Rail cum Road bridge
|crosses      = [[Hooghly River]]
|crosses      = [[Hooghly River]]
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|length        = {{Convert|2960|ft}}
|length        = {{Convert|2887|ft}}
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|begin        =  
|begin        =1926
|complete      =  
|complete      =1931
|open          = {{start date and age|1930 }}
|open          = {{date and age|1931|12|29|df=y}}
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'''Vivekananda Setu''' (also called '''Willingdon Bridge''' and '''Bally Bridge''') is a bridge over the [[Hooghly River]] in [[West Bengal]], India.  It links the city of [[Howrah]], at Bally, to [[Kolkata]], at [[Dakshineswar]]. Completed on 12 December 1930 & opened on 28 December 1930, it is a multispan steel bridge and was built to provide road and rail links between the [[Kolkata Port Trust|Calcutta Port]] and its hinterland. It is {{Convert|2960|ft}} long having 9 Spans in total. The famous [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple|Dakshineswar Temple]] is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River near the Bally Bridge. The bridge is one of 4 bridges & the 2nd Oldest Bridge linking Howrah and Kolkata.The Bridge is about 90 years old and still standing tall. Since 2007, it's been accompanied by a new bridge, [[Nivedita Setu]], 50m downstream.
'''Vivekananda Setu''' (also called '''Willingdon Bridge''' and '''Bally Bridge''') is a bridge over the [[Hooghly River]] in [[West Bengal]], India.  It links the city of [[Howrah]], at Bally, to [[Kolkata]], at [[Dakshineswar]]. Completed on 1931, it is a multispan [[truss bridge]] and was built to primarily to provide direct road and rail connectivity between the [[Port of Kolkata|Calcutta Port]] and the major railhead at [[Howrah railway station]] on the West bank of the [[Hooghly River]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Symphony of Progress: The Saga of Eastern Railway 1854-2003|publisher=Eastern Railway|year=2003|location=Kolkata|pages=31}}</ref> It is {{Convert|2887|ft}} long having 9 spans in total.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Willingdon Bridge|url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Willingdon_Bridge|url-status=live|access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> The famous [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple]] is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River near the bridge.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Vivekananda Setu in Bally|url=https://www.ballyonline.in/city-guide/vivekananda-setu-in-bally|url-status=live|access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> The bridge is one of the four bridges linking Howrah and Kolkata. A new road bridge, the [[Nivedita Setu]], was constructed {{Convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}} downstream in 2007 due to weakening of the Vivekanada Setu caused by its ageing.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="famous">{{cite web|title=Famous Bridges of India – Nivedita Setu|url=http://www.indiastravelnews.com/2010/11/11/famous-bridges-of-india-nivedita-setu.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034411/http://www.indiastravelnews.com/2010/11/11/famous-bridges-of-india-nivedita-setu.html|archive-date=2015-09-24|access-date=2011-07-06|publisher=India Travel News}}</ref>


==Naming==
==Naming==
The bridge was originally named Willingdon Bridge after Viceroy of India, [[Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon]], who inaugurated it.<ref name=n/> It was eventually renamed ''Bally Bridge'', before officially becoming known as ''Vivekananda Setu''.
The bridge was originally named Willingdon Bridge after Viceroy of India, [[Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon]].<ref name="n" /><ref name=":1" /> It was eventually renamed as Bally Bridge, before officially renamed as Vivekananda Setu.<ref name=":1" />


==Construction==
==Construction==
[[File:Vivekananda Setu-Bally, Kolkata-West Bengal 700076-DSC 0018.jpg|thumb|Vivekananda Setu sunrise view]]
[[File:Vivekananda Setu-Bally, Kolkata-West Bengal 700076-DSC 0018.jpg|thumb|Vivekananda Setu sunrise view]]
[[File:Vivekananda Setu bridge during sunset.jpg|thumb|Vivekananda Setu during sunset]]
[[File:Vivekananda Setu bridge during sunset.jpg|thumb|Vivekananda Setu during sunset]]
The erection and [[Caisson (engineering)|Caissoning]] of the bridge was done by noted [[Kutchi people|Kutchi]]-[[Mistris of Kutch|Mestri]]  railway contractor and Industrialist [[Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja]].<ref name=n /><ref name=z /> His nameplate can still be seen on each girder of the bridge.<ref name=n/> The construction of bridge started in year 1926 and was completed in year 1932.<ref name=z/><ref name=n/> The fabrication of the bridge was done at works of [[Braithwaite & Co. Ltd.|Braithwate & Company]], Calcutta.<ref name=z/><ref name=n />
The erection and [[Caisson (engineering)|caissoning]] of the bridge was done by the noted [[Kutchi people|Kutchi]]-[[Mistris of Kutch|Mestri]]  railway contractor and industrialist [[Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja]].<ref name=n /><ref name=z /> His nameplate can still be seen on each girder of the bridge.<ref name=n/> The construction of bridge started in year 1926 and was completed in year 1931.<ref name=z/><ref name=n/> The fabrication of the bridge was done at works of [[Braithwaite & Co. Ltd.|Braithwate & Company]], Calcutta.<ref name=z/><ref name=n />


The Bridge was built with eight spans laid at distance of 300&nbsp;ft each. The length of bridge is almost half mile with 10&nbsp;km approach roads on both sides.<ref name=n/><ref>Conditions and Prospects of United Kingdom Trade in India: (with a Brief Account of the Trade of Burma).Great Britain. Dept. of Overseas Trade ;H.M. Stationery Office, 1928 - India pp:136.</ref> The foundation laid with well-sinking 100&nbsp;ft down the river beds, [[Girder bridge|girding]], erection of [[abutment]]s, [[arching]] was all done by Jagmal Raja.<ref name=n/> This Railway bridge is also important in annals of History of Railway in India because the Railway for the first time crossed over [[Hooghly River|River Hooghly]] and reached Calcutta at [[Sealdah Station|Sealdah Terminus]]<ref name=n/>
The viaduct consists of 22 spans of {{Convert|30|ft}} girders built of masonry piers, whose foundations have been piled with reinforced concrete piles 40 to 50 feet long. The bridge itself consists of seven {{Convert|350|ft}} main spans and two {{Convert|80|ft}} land spans. The eight main piers in the river are founded on octagonal steel caissons, 70 feet by 37 feet, having two dredging holes each 19 feet in diameter. The caissons were all floated into position and founded by loading with concrete, sustaining the load on compressed air buoyancy and releasing the air on a suitable falling tide.<ref name=":0" /> The length of the bridge is almost half a mile with {{Convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} long approach roads on both sides.<ref name=n/><ref>Conditions and Prospects of United Kingdom Trade in India: (with a Brief Account of the Trade of Burma). Great Britain. Dept. of Overseas Trade ;H.M. Stationery Office, 1928 - India pp:136.</ref> The foundation was laid with well-sinking {{Convert|100|ft}} down the river beds. [[Girder bridge|Girding]], erection of [[abutment]]s and [[arching]] were all done by [[Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja]].<ref name=n/> This railway bridge is also important in the annals of history of railways in India because the railway for the first time crossed over [[Hooghly River|River Hooghly]] and reached Calcutta at [[Sealdah Station|Sealdah Terminus]] thus connecting the East and West banks of the river.<ref name=n/>
 
The bridge was by far the most expensive and the most difficult of the railway bridges to be constructed in India up to that time. The bridge was constructed at a total cost of {{INRconvert|1.14|c|lk=off|year=1932}}


The first train that ran across the bridge was named Jagmal Raja Howrah Express by the British, acknowledging the feat of Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja. The bridge cost over {{INRconvert|1|c}} in those years.<ref name=n/>
The first train that ran across the bridge was named Jagmal Raja Howrah Express by the British, acknowledging the feat of Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja. The bridge cost over {{INRconvert|1|c}} in those years.<ref name=n/>
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[[File:VIVEKANANDA Setu, Kolkata.jpg|thumb|Front View of Vivekananda Setu]]
[[File:VIVEKANANDA Setu, Kolkata.jpg|thumb|Front View of Vivekananda Setu]]
The bridge serves both road and rail:
The bridge serves both road and rail:
* Rail - connects [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah Station]] to [[Delhi]]
* Rail - the railway line through the bridge forms a part of the [[Calcutta Chord link line]] which connects [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah Station]] with the [[Howrah–Bardhaman chord]] line and [[Howrah–Kharagpur line]].
* Road - connects [[Grand Trunk Road]] (Howrah side) to [[Barrackpore Trunk Road]] (Kolkata side)
* Road - the bridge connects the [[Grand Trunk Road]] (Howrah side - West bank) with the [[Barrackpore Trunk Road]] (Kolkata side - East bank).
 
This bridge has recently handled a daily traffic of 24,000 vehicles.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indiastravelnews.com/2010/06/29/famous-bridges-of-india-vivekananda-setu.html | title=Famous Bridges of India – Vivekananda Setu | publisher=India Travel News | access-date=6 July 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


Vivekananda Setu had become weak as a result of ageing, and with heavy traffic, even repairs became difficult. There was need for a second bridge. [[Nivedita Setu]] was constructed parallel to it and around {{convert|50|m|ft|round=5}} downstream.<ref name="indiastravelnews-nivedita" /> It was opened to traffic in 2007. Vivekananda Setu allows traffic movement upstream (Bally to Kolkata) while Nivedita Setu helps downstream transport (from Kolkata to Bally).
The bridge had become weak as a result of ageing, and with heavy traffic, even repairs became difficult. Thus a second road bridge, the [[Nivedita Setu]] was constructed parallel to it and around {{convert|50|m|ft|round=5}} downstream.<ref name="indiastravelnews-nivedita" /> It was opened to traffic in 2007. Following this the Vivekananda Setu allows traffic movement upstream (from Bally to Kolkata) while the Nivedita Setu helps downstream transport (from Kolkata to Bally).<ref name="indiastravelnews-nivedita" />


==See also==
==See also==
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[[Category:Tourist attractions in Howrah]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Howrah]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Railway bridges in West Bengal]]

Latest revision as of 03:43, 14 April 2022



Vivekananda Setu
Hooghly River1.jpg
Vivekananda Setu
Coordinates22°39′11″N 88°21′12″E / 22.65319°N 88.35326°E / 22.65319; 88.35326Coordinates: 22°39′11″N 88°21′12″E / 22.65319°N 88.35326°E / 22.65319; 88.35326
OS grid referenceTemplate:Gbmappingsmall
CarriesRail cum Road bridge
CrossesHooghly River
LocaleBally-Dakshineswar
Official nameVivekanada Setu
Characteristics
MaterialSteel and Stone
Total length2,887 feet (880 m)
History
Construction start1926
Construction end1931
OpenedTemplate:Date and age
Location
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Vivekananda Setu (also called Willingdon Bridge and Bally Bridge) is a bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. It links the city of Howrah, at Bally, to Kolkata, at Dakshineswar. Completed on 1931, it is a multispan truss bridge and was built to primarily to provide direct road and rail connectivity between the Calcutta Port and the major railhead at Howrah railway station on the West bank of the Hooghly River.[1] It is 2,887 feet (880 m) long having 9 spans in total.[2] The famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River near the bridge.[3] The bridge is one of the four bridges linking Howrah and Kolkata. A new road bridge, the Nivedita Setu, was constructed 50 m (160 ft) downstream in 2007 due to weakening of the Vivekanada Setu caused by its ageing.[3][4]

Naming[edit]

The bridge was originally named Willingdon Bridge after Viceroy of India, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon.[5][3] It was eventually renamed as Bally Bridge, before officially renamed as Vivekananda Setu.[3]

Construction[edit]

Vivekananda Setu sunrise view
Vivekananda Setu during sunset

The erection and caissoning of the bridge was done by the noted Kutchi-Mestri railway contractor and industrialist Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja.[5][6] His nameplate can still be seen on each girder of the bridge.[5] The construction of bridge started in year 1926 and was completed in year 1931.[6][5] The fabrication of the bridge was done at works of Braithwate & Company, Calcutta.[6][5]

The viaduct consists of 22 spans of 30 feet (9.1 m) girders built of masonry piers, whose foundations have been piled with reinforced concrete piles 40 to 50 feet long. The bridge itself consists of seven 350 feet (110 m) main spans and two 80 feet (24 m) land spans. The eight main piers in the river are founded on octagonal steel caissons, 70 feet by 37 feet, having two dredging holes each 19 feet in diameter. The caissons were all floated into position and founded by loading with concrete, sustaining the load on compressed air buoyancy and releasing the air on a suitable falling tide.[2] The length of the bridge is almost half a mile with 10 km (6.2 mi) long approach roads on both sides.[5][7] The foundation was laid with well-sinking 100 feet (30 m) down the river beds. Girding, erection of abutments and arching were all done by Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja.[5] This railway bridge is also important in the annals of history of railways in India because the railway for the first time crossed over River Hooghly and reached Calcutta at Sealdah Terminus thus connecting the East and West banks of the river.[5]

The bridge was by far the most expensive and the most difficult of the railway bridges to be constructed in India up to that time. The bridge was constructed at a total cost of ₹1.14 crore (US$130,000)

The first train that ran across the bridge was named Jagmal Raja Howrah Express by the British, acknowledging the feat of Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja. The bridge cost over ₹1 crore (US$110,000) in those years.[5]

Usage[edit]

Front View of Vivekananda Setu

The bridge serves both road and rail:

The bridge had become weak as a result of ageing, and with heavy traffic, even repairs became difficult. Thus a second road bridge, the Nivedita Setu was constructed parallel to it and around 50 metres (165 ft) downstream.[8] It was opened to traffic in 2007. Following this the Vivekananda Setu allows traffic movement upstream (from Bally to Kolkata) while the Nivedita Setu helps downstream transport (from Kolkata to Bally).[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Symphony of Progress: The Saga of Eastern Railway 1854-2003. Kolkata: Eastern Railway. 2003. p. 31.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Willingdon Bridge". Retrieved 12 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Vivekananda Setu in Bally". Retrieved 12 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Famous Bridges of India – Nivedita Setu". India Travel News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Diary of Golden Days at Jharia – A Memoir & History of Gurjar Kashtriya Samaj of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia – written by Natwarlal Devram Jethwa of Calcutta compiled by Raja Pawan Jethwa published in year 1998 in English. Life sketch of Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan pp:33.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 [1] Minutes of proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London 1934 : Willingdon Bridge & Rai Bahadur Jagamal Raja, Volume 235, Part 1, page 83.
  7. ↑ Conditions and Prospects of United Kingdom Trade in India: (with a Brief Account of the Trade of Burma). Great Britain. Dept. of Overseas Trade ;H.M. Stationery Office, 1928 - India pp:136.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Famous Bridges of India – Nivedita Setu". India Travel News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
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