Venduruthy Bridge

Venduruthy Bridge
Coordinates9°56′46″N 76°17′15″E / 9.9461°N 76.2874°E / 9.9461; 76.2874
Characteristics
Total length627 m (new road bridge)
Width11 m (new road bridge)
History
DesignerRobert Bristow
Construction end1938 (old bridge)
2011 (new road bridge)
Construction cost37 crore (new road bridge)
Opened2011 (new road bridge)
2015 (new railway bridge)
Closed2011 (old road bridge)
Location
Map

Venduruthy-Vikrant Bridge, also known as Venduruthy Bridge is a bridge in Kochi, Kerala, India. There are two bridges at present; one railway bridge and one road bridge, running parallel to each other, that connects the Ernakulam side of Kochi to the Willingdon Island.[1] The old Venduruthy railway bridge was constructed in 1938 along with two parallel road bridges. The old railway bridge is one of the first bridges in India to be completely constructed from steel.[2] It is a landmark in Kochi with historic significance as it played a major role in the transformation of Kochi into a major port city in India during the British era.[3][4]

In 2005, a dredger hit the railway bridge which led to its closure.[5] Following this incident, the construction of a new railway bridge started, which was opened in 2015. The old railway bridge was dismantled in March 2018.[6] The new two-lane road bridge was opened in 2011, after the old road bridge was found to be too weak to carry heavy vehicles.[7]

  1. ^ "Call intensifies for saving old Venduruthy Bridge | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Venduruthy Bridge waits for revival". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Kerala's Venduruthy old rail bridge to be declared as heritage property?". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Venduruthy Railway Bridge's journey into life's sunset begins". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Venduruthy Rail Bridge to be Opened in Six Months". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Venduruthy ROB work back on track in Kochi". The Hindu. 24 September 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Venduruthy railway bridge built in British era sold for meagre price". English Archives. Retrieved 10 January 2023.