Posted On:
15 NOV 2024 9:02PM by PIB Kolkata
Kolkata, November 15, 2024
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP, Kolkata) Kolkata is conducting a comprehensive health check-up of Howrah Bridge in coordination with the Police authority. Shri Rathendra Raman, Chairman, SMP Kolkata today said the exercise is going to be done to ensure its continued strength and durability.
For this, the bridge better known as Rabindra Setu will be fully closed (both ways) for all types of vehicular movement from 11.30 pm night of November 16, 2024 to 04.30 am of November 17,.
RITES, the expert agency deployed for comprehensive health study, are inspecting the bridge with other experts and to facilitate inspection a short closure of the bridge has been planned.
The last Health Check up of Rabindra Setu was conducted in 1983-1988, after continuous service of the bridge for 40 years. The bridge was put to service in 1943 by M/s RITES.
RITES had taken help of M/S RPT (Rendel Pamer & Triton), main designer of the bridge & CRRI during their study and had made traffic study, survey, necessary ultrasonic test & non-destructive tests etc. and on the basis of all those tests submitted the then health report of the bridge and provide restoration & retrofitting schemes for enhancing the service life of the bridge.
M/S BBJ Construction Company took up the restoration work in two phases & it continued from 1992 to 2005 at a cost of about Rs 15 crore.
SMP Kolkata (erstwhile Kolkata Port Trust) being the commissioners for Rabindra Setu, is looking after its maintenance, cleaning, decorative lighting, street lighting etc. as well as regular maintenance of Brabourne Road Flyover. A division of the Civil Engineering Department, headed by Sr Ex. Engineer, is exclusively placed into services for looking after the maintenance of Rabindra Setu.
SMP, Kolkata sincerely appreciates the cooperation of the citizens of the city as the port works towards maintaining one of Kolkata's most cherished landmarks.
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