Cochin Bridge (India)

For the Bridge with same name in Canada, see Cochin Bridge (Canada).
Not to be confused with Mattancherry Bridge.

Cochin Bridge
Old Cochin Bridge and new Cochin Bridge in 2007
Coordinates10°45′12″N 76°16′32″E / 10.753273°N 76.275426°E / 10.753273; 76.275426
CarriedRail (former)
Road
CrossedBharathappuzha
LocaleShoranur, Palakkad district, Kerala
Characteristics
Total length322 m
No. of spans15
History
Construction end1902
Opened2 June 1902
Collapsed2009
Closed1989
Location
Map

The Cochin Bridge is a collapsed historical bridge located in Palakkad district, Kerala, India. It was originally constructed as a rail bridge, that lies across the Bharathapuzha river, connecting Shoranur in Palakkad district with Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district.[1] The bridge's construction was completed in 1902 at the cost of 84 lakh rupees by Shri Rama Varma Thampuran, the Maharaja of Kochi, who reigned from the year 1895 till 1914.[2] This was the only bridge built in that time to make Malabar navigable to the Kingdom of Kochi. The first freight train passed over the bridge on 2 June 1902 and a few days later on the 16 June, the first passenger train made the journey from Shoranur to Kochi through the bridge. Due to damage, it was closed in 1989, and a new bridge was built parallel to it. As of October 2023, the bridge is in a collapsed condition and the authorities are planning to completely dismantle it.[3]

  1. ^ "A bridge to Kochi's past lies in ruins". The Hindu. 20 September 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Rama Varma Thampuran, Last Maharaja of Cochin". The New York Times. 13 November 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  3. ^ "The Cochin Bridge, Cheruthuruthy - Shornur". 29 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2023.