Old Godavari Bridge

{{Short description|Bridge over the Godavari RIver in Andhra Pradesh, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox bridge | bridge_name = Old Godavari Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Godavari Bridge.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Havelock Bridge on the left and Godavari Arch Bridge on the right. | official_name = The Havelock Bridge | other_name = Old Godavari Bridge | carries = Railway Line | crosses = Godavari River | locale = Rajahmundry, India | owner = | maint = | id = | website = | architect = | designer = | engineering = | design = | material = | length = {{convert|2.7|km|mi}} | width = | height = | mainspan = | spans = | pierswater = | load = | clearance = | below = | life = 100 years | builder = | fabricator = | begin = {{Start date|df=yes|1897|11|11}} | complete = | cost = | open = {{Start date|df=yes|1900|08|30}} | inaugurated = | toll = | traffic = | preceded = | followed = Godavari Arch Bridge | heritage = | collapsed = | closed = 1997 | replaces = | map_cue = | map_image = | map_alt = | map_text = | map_width = | coordinates = {{coord|17|00|26.6|N|81|45|21|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | references = | extra = }} thumb|240px|'''The Havelock Bridge''' plaque commissioned in 1897 AD and opened for traffic in 1900 AD The '''Old Godavari Bridge''' (also known as '''The Havelock Bridge''') is a decommissioned bridge that spans the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, India. Commissioned in 1900, the bridge served trains plying between Howrah and Madras.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} It is the earliest of three bridges that span the Godavari River at Rajahmundry. The Godavari Arch Bridge was later constructed as a replacement for the Havelock Bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irsme.nic.in/files/mmfiles/BRIDGES_RRB.pdf|title=Bridges: The Spectacular Feat of Indian Engineering|author=R.R.Bhandari|access-date=2012-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002840/http://irsme.nic.in/files/mmfiles/BRIDGES_RRB.pdf|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The bridge along with the Godavari bridge and Godavari Arch Bridge is one of the most recognised symbols of Kovvur and Rajahmundry of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

==History== The construction of the bridge commenced on 11 November 1897 and opened for traffic on 30 August 1900. The Bridge was named after Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock, the then Governor of Madras. Frederick Thomas Granville Walton served as the Engineer-in-chief assisted by executive engineers R.A.Delanougerede, F.D.Couchman, J.E.Eaglesome.<ref>{{cite web|last=Khan |first=Mukram |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/28023731@N04/7371646202/in/photostream |title=The Havelock Bridge Memorial Stone|website=Flickr |access-date=2012-07-30}}</ref>

The bridge was constructed with stone masonry and steel girders. It has 56 spans each of {{Convert|45.7|m}}and is {{Convert|3480|m}} long. The girders were fabricated by Butterley Company of Ripley, Derbyshire.<ref>Butterley Brick, 200 years in the making. Roy Christian, 1990, p. 142, Henry Melland Ltd; London.</ref> The rail bridge served the busy Howrah-Chennai line until its decommissioning.

Having served its full life span of 100 years, it was decommissioned in 1997, and Godavari Arch Bridge was built as a replacement for the bridge. Today, the bridge is being used to host civic water supply pipelines. <gallery> Godavari_Havelock_Bridge.jpg|Havelock bridge at night(arch bridge visible) Havelock Old Railway bridge on Godavari River.jpg|Havelock bridge view Rajahmundry end point of Havelock old Railway Bridge.jpg|Rajahmundry end point of Havelock Bridge </gallery>

==Present status== After being planned to be converted into a national monument,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News: Havelock Bridge to be a national monument |date=26 July 2007 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/26/stories/2007072655380400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908085433/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/26/stories/2007072655380400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2008 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref> historic monument<ref>{{cite web|title=Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation: Introductory |publisher=Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation |date=8 February 2012 |url=http://www.rajahmundrycorporation.org/ |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref> now its finally planned to be converted into a tourist spot,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/18/stories/2008121850640300.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125154633/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/18/stories/2008121850640300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Andhra Pradesh / Rajahmundry News : Havelock bridge to be developed into tourist spot |date=18 December 2008 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref> as a pedestrian pathway. In 2008 the Municipal Corporation of Rajahmundry passed a resolution expressing willingness to take up the beautification project.<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article333070.ece |title=National / Andhra Pradesh: Fate of Havelock bridge hangs in balance |newspaper=The Hindu |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=30 July 2012 }}</ref> With the Railways Ministry not coming forward for implementation of the project, Former Member of Parliament Vundavalli Aruna Kumar has appealed to the Railways Ministry for the approval of the project.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/24/stories/2010042459450300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426143813/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/24/stories/2010042459450300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 April 2010 |title=Andhra Pradesh / Rajahmundry News : MP's plea on Havelock Bridge |date=24 April 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Need To Develop Old Godavari Bridge, Known As ... on 22 April, 2010 |work=Lok Sabha Debates |publisher=Indian Kanoon |date=22 April 2010 |url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1322832/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027171010/http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1322832/ |archive-date=27 October 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> {{As of|2017}} the project was still awaiting funds to commence.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chowdhury |first=Arka Roy |date=5 December 2017 |title=Havelock Bridge may soon be converted into a tourist destination |publisher=Happy Trips (Times Internet) |location=Gurgaon, India |url=https://www.happytrips.com/destinations/havelock-bridge-may-soon-be-converted-into-a-tourist-destination/as61914215.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205212411/https://www.happytrips.com/destinations/havelock-bridge-may-soon-be-converted-into-a-tourist-destination/as61914215.cms |archive-date=5 December 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Sister bridges== *Godavari Bridge *Godavari Arch Bridge

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Bridges completed in 1900 Category:Bridges in Andhra Pradesh Category:Bridges over the Godavari River Category:Buildings and structures in Rajahmundry Category:Transport in Rajahmundry Category:Buildings and structures in East Godavari district Category:Transport in East Godavari district Category:Former railway bridges in India Category:1900 establishments in India Category:20th-century architecture in India