Mattancherry & Venduruthy Bridges Cochin – 2 Postcards 1940
Two 1940 photo postcards of Mattancherry and Venduruthy Bridges in Cochin (Kochi). Both were built during the British era. The backwaters shown is the Vembanad lake, which is a massive body of water with an artificial island. Known as the Willingdon Island it is the largest artificial island in India. Reclaimed by dredging of the shipping channel from the island to the sea. Named in honour of Lord Willingdon, the then Governor of Madras, who sanctioned the project in the 1920s.
The Mattancherry and Venduruthy bridges link to the archipelago of Fort Cochin in the west and Ernakulam mainland in the east respectively. The Venduruthy Bridge had a lift system, it lifted up a part of the road to let ships pass (see first image). Robert Bristow a Harbour engineer from Madras (Chennai) conceived the plan of the island and the two bridges. All three transportation stations- the harbour, airport, and railway station are located on this island. The civilian airport has since moved out to a larger area on the outskirts of Kochi city. Rice boats or cargo boats are seen plying on the Vembanad Lake, these have long disappeared from the scene.
See post Cochin Port Trust Office Building – Old Postcard 1950. Also read Old Bridge.
Did you know- the Mattancherry bridge had a lift span in the center that would be raised to allow free movement of ships. But the lift span was not used much and remained locked till now.
From the collection- 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#13)., 1948 Mumbai Great Cyclone – Two Old Newspaper Pages., British Military Royal Field Artillery At Belgaum-Old Photo 1870., Railway Accident In British India Era – Old Photograph 1900