First Railway Bridge Across The Hooghly Calcutta, 1931 Photo
A 1931 photo of the first railway bridge across the Hooghly in Calcutta (Kolkata). It shows an almost completed Vivekananda Setu Bridge as it is now called. This multi-span British-era railway bridge across the Hooghly River has a total length of 900 meters. Linking Howrah and Calcutta at Bally and Dakshineswar respectively. The construction started in 1926 and was completed in 1931.
This photo was taken around the time Lord Willingdon, the then Viceroy of India, inaugurated the bridge on 29th Dec 1931. It was consequently named Willingdon Bridge, later renamed Bally Bridge, and finally Vivekananda Setu Bridge. It consists of seven 350 feet main spans and two smaller 80 feet of land spans. The bridge was not completed when it was inaugurated by Lord Willingdon. Two of the land spans were yet to be erected, and cranes and materials are still visible in the photo. Click on the photo for better view.
See post Flying Boat/Seaplane Service In British India, Old Print 1948.
Did you know- the work was done by railway contractor and industrialist Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja. The first train that ran across the bridge was named Jagmal Raja Howrah Express by the British in gratitude for the contractors’ meritorious work.
From the collection- Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Shivaji” Oleograph Print., General Post Office Bangalore – Old 1900 Postcard., The Gairsoppa Falls or Jog Falls – Old Print 1894., Old Pictorial Book 1903 – Views of Bombay Old & New
The images are of the actual items from my collection. And Not a photocopy, pirated, reproduced, stock photos, or taken from other sources.
