Kolkata's renowned Howrah Bridge, a symbol of the city's history, will be closed to vehicular traffic for the first time in its 81-year existence for a comprehensive inspection, marking the first such check-up in four decades.
The bridge, which was renamed Rabindra Setu in 1965 to honor poet Rabindranath Tagore, will remain closed in both directions to all vehicles from 11:30 PM on Saturday until 4:30 AM on Sunday.
The audit is being conducted by the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port, also referred to as Kolkata Port Trust, which is responsible for the bridge's maintenance. The expert agency, Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), has been appointed to carry out this comprehensive study, making it the first such audit since 1983.
In May 2023, a project was initiated to alleviate the load on the bridge by removing the bituminous layer. Now, authorities are planning to assess its impact through a health scan.
The Hooghly River’s balanced steel bridge, which connects Kolkata and Howrah, is made from 26,500 tonnes of high-tensile steel alloy, primarily supplied by Tata Steel. It spans a total length of 705 meters and a width of 71 feet, with footpaths on either side measuring 15 feet each. The bridge serves as the world’s busiest cantilever bridge, handling around 100,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians daily.
RITES has been working on the bridge since mid-2024, but an officer mentioned that repairs are needed on the interior of the structure, making the closure necessary.
As the Kolkata-Howrah connector remains closed for the night, vehicles heading toward Kolkata will be diverted via Vidyasagar Setu, taking the RB Setu-Burn Standard More-Foreshore Road-Kazipara route, according to the police. Those traveling from south and west Howrah to north Kolkata, who would normally use the Howrah Bridge, can instead use the Nibedita Setu (Bally Bridge) via the HIT Bridge-Golabari police station crossing-GT Road or Dobson Road-GT Road, or CM Bridge-GT Road.
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