Old Godavari Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Old Godavari Bridge
Official Name:The Havelock Bridge
Other Name:Old Godavari Bridge
Carries:Railway Line
Crosses:Godavari River
Locale:Rajahmundry, India
Length:2.7km (01.7miles)
Life:100 years
Followed:Godavari Arch Bridge
Closed:1997
Coordinates:17.0074°N 81.7558°W

The Old Godavari Bridge (also known as The Havelock Bridge) is a decommissioned bridge that spans the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, India. Commissioned in 1900, the bridge served trains plying between Howrah and Madras. It is the earliest of three bridges that span the Godavari River at Rajahmundry. The Godavari Arch Bridge was later constructed as a replacement for the Havelock Bridge.[1] The bridge along with the Godavari bridge and Godavari Arch Bridge is one of the most recognised symbols of Kovvur and Rajahmundry of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

History

The construction of the bridge commenced on 11 November 1897 and opened for traffic on 30 August 1900. The Bridge was named after Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock, the then Governor of Madras. Frederick Thomas Granville Walton served as the Engineer-in-chief assisted by executive engineers R.A.Delanougerede, F.D.Couchman, J.E.Eaglesome.[2]

The bridge was constructed with stone masonry and steel girders. It has 56 spans each of and is long. The girders were fabricated by Butterley Company of Ripley, Derbyshire.[3] The rail bridge served the busy Howrah-Chennai line until its decommissioning.

Having served its full life span of 100 years, it was decommissioned in 1997, and Godavari Arch Bridge was built as a replacement for the bridge. Today, the bridge is being used to host civic water supply pipelines.

Present status

After being planned to be converted into a national monument,[4] historic monument[5] now its finally planned to be converted into a tourist spot,[6] as a pedestrian pathway. In 2008 the Municipal Corporation of Rajahmundry passed a resolution expressing willingness to take up the beautification project.[7] With the Railways Ministry not coming forward for implementation of the project, Former Member of Parliament Vundavalli Aruna Kumar has appealed to the Railways Ministry for the approval of the project.[8] [9] the project was still awaiting funds to commence.[10]

Sister bridges

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bridges: The Spectacular Feat of Indian Engineering. R.R.Bhandari. 2012-07-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002840/http://irsme.nic.in/files/mmfiles/BRIDGES_RRB.pdf. 5 March 2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Khan . Mukram . The Havelock Bridge Memorial Stone. Flickr . 2012-07-30.
  3. Butterley Brick, 200 years in the making. Roy Christian, 1990, p. 142, Henry Melland Ltd; London.
  4. News: Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News: Havelock Bridge to be a national monument . 26 July 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080908085433/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/26/stories/2007072655380400.htm . dead . 8 September 2008 . . 30 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation: Introductory . Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation . 8 February 2012 . 30 July 2012.
  6. News: Andhra Pradesh / Rajahmundry News : Havelock bridge to be developed into tourist spot . https://archive.today/20130125154633/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/18/stories/2008121850640300.htm . dead . 25 January 2013 . 18 December 2008 . . 30 July 2012.
  7. News: National / Andhra Pradesh: Fate of Havelock bridge hangs in balance . . 16 March 2009 . 30 July 2012 .
  8. News: Andhra Pradesh / Rajahmundry News : MP's plea on Havelock Bridge . https://web.archive.org/web/20100426143813/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/24/stories/2010042459450300.htm . dead . 26 April 2010 . 24 April 2010 . . 30 July 2012.
  9. Web site: Need To Develop Old Godavari Bridge, Known As ... on 22 April, 2010 . Lok Sabha Debates . Indian Kanoon . 22 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141027171010/http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1322832/ . 27 October 2014 . live . dmy.
  10. Web site: Chowdhury . Arka Roy . 5 December 2017 . Havelock Bridge may soon be converted into a tourist destination . Happy Trips (Times Internet) . Gurgaon, India . https://web.archive.org/web/20171205212411/https://www.happytrips.com/destinations/havelock-bridge-may-soon-be-converted-into-a-tourist-destination/as61914215.cms . 5 December 2017 . live . dmy .