The Howrah Bridge, also known as the Rabindra Setu, is a cantilever bridge that spans the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. It connects the city of Howrah to the main city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). The bridge was completed in 1943 and is considered an engineering marvel.
The Howrah Bridge is a steel truss bridge and is 6,150 feet (1,874 m) long and 97 feet (30 m) wide. It has a roadway for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, as well as a footpath for pedestrians. The bridge has a total of seven spans and is held up by two massive steel towers, which are anchored in the riverbed.
The Howrah Bridge is one of the busiest bridges in the world and carries over 100,000 vehicles and around 150,000 pedestrians daily. It is also a popular tourist spot and a symbol of the city of Kolkata.
The bridge was initially constructed with steel and took around 6 years to build. In 1992, the bridge was reinforced with steel girders and a new deck, which was made of high-tensile steel was fitted. This renovation helped to increase the bridge's load-bearing capacity and extend its lifespan.
The Howrah Bridge is a vital link between Kolkata and Howrah and plays an important role in the economy of the region. The bridge is considered an engineering marvel and is an iconic structure of Kolkata.
