Kolkata: The world famous Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu), built over the Hooghly (Ganga) river to connect Howrah and Kolkata, will be closed for the first time for health check-up. During this time, vehicular movement on this bridge will be closed for about 5 hours. It is being said that for the first time in about 40 years, this bridge has been closed in this manner for several hours. According to information, this bridge will be closed for vehicular movement for five hours on Saturday night. The bridge will be completely closed from 11:30 pm on Saturday to 4:30 am on Sunday.

In fact, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port Trust has taken the help of a team of experts to thoroughly examine this bridge. The main purpose of this investigation is to check whether the bridge is weak or damaged. In view of this, an audit of this bridge will be conducted.

First audit in 40 years

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port (formerly Kolkata Port Trust) is responsible for the maintenance of this bridge. The trust has now hired the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) to conduct a study. It will audit this bridge for the first time since 1983.

Lakhs of vehicles pass by in a day

Please note that in May 2023, the relevant authorities removed the membrane of the bituminous layer with the aim of reducing the load from the bridge. This measure is planned to be reviewed as part of the next health check and will be used to analyze the impact as well as check the internal condition of the bridge.

Get to know the bridge at a glance

• This cantilever steel bridge built on Hooghly (Ganga) river connects two districts (Kolkata and Howrah).
• The bridge was constructed using 26,500 tonnes of high-tensile steel alloy.
• The total length of Howrah Bridge is 705 meters and the width is 71 feet. There are 15 feet wide footpaths on both sides of the bridge.
• Around 1,00,000 vehicles pass through Howrah Bridge every day.

Know what the police said?

During the audit of the bridge, the movement of vehicles will be closed, due to which people may face problems. Police said in this regard that due to the closure of the bridge, motorists will be advised to use other routes to balance the closed route. According to the traffic arrangement, vehicles going towards Kolkata will be diverted towards Vidyasagar Setu via RB Setu-Burn Standard Mor-Foreshore Road-Kazipara. Along with this, people going from South and West Howrah to North Kolkata will also be able to travel via Nivedita Setu (Bali Bridge) to HIT Bridge-Golabari Police Station Crossing-GT Road or Dobson Road-GT Road or CM Bridge-GT Road instead of going through Howrah Bridge.