Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It spans over the Hooghly River and connects the city of Howrah to Kolkata.
The bridge was constructed without any nuts or bolts, and instead, it was built using rivets. Around 26,500 tons of steel and 2 million rivets were used in its construction.
The bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, but in 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu after the famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
The bridge is one of the busiest in the world and sees a daily traffic of over 100,000 vehicles and pedestrians.
Howrah Bridge is known for its unique design and is one of the longest cantilever bridges in the world, with a length of 705 meters and a width of 71 feet.
The bridge was built to replace the old pontoon bridge, which was unable to handle the increasing traffic between Howrah and Kolkata.
Howrah Bridge has a total of eight lanes, with four lanes on the upper level for motor vehicles and two lanes on either side of the lower level for pedestrians.
The bridge is illuminated with lights of different colors during festivals such as Diwali, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, making it a popular tourist attraction.
The bridge has survived several natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, and earthquakes. In fact, during World War II, the bridge was deliberately left undamaged by the Allied forces to avoid disrupting supply lines.
Howrah Bridge has also been featured in many Indian films, including the iconic Bollywood film 'Howrah Bridge' (1958), which starred Ashok Kumar and Madhubala.
Top 10 Facts About Howrah Bridge
0
March 25, 2023
Top 10 Facts About Howrah Bridge
Tags