Hardinge Bridge stands as a witness to time
In 1915, the British government built the Bheramara-Pakshi Hardinge Bridge at a cost of 180,06,796 taka. At that time, it was said that heavy trains could run over this bridge every day for 100 years. The Hardinge Bridge entered its 111th year after its term expired. This traditional bridge has stood on the Padma River for ages, standing as a witness to the passage of time.
On March 4, 1915, during the inauguration of the historic Hardinge Bridge, the chief engineer of the bridge project, Sir Robert William Gales, said with emotion, “The bridge I have built will last forever if it is properly maintained.” This bridge, built on the banks of the Padma River 110 years ago, is proof of how true this statement is. Even after a century and 111 years, the bridge has not shown signs of aging. How many thousands and millions of times the Padma has been inundated, how many rulers have changed, but even today the traditional Hardinge Bridge of Bangladesh stands at Birdarpa. Many people from different parts of the country and abroad still come to Pakshi-Bheramara to have a look at the bridge. The crowd increases a lot during public holidays including Eid.
This Hardinge Bridge, which connects Pabna and Kushtia districts, was once the longest railway bridge in Bangladesh. This historic bridge has created one of the bridges in the north, south and east of Bangladesh. On one bank of the Ruposhi Padma was the Saraghat, and on the other bank was the Bheramara Damukdia Raytaghat. In the middle is the Padma, the longest railway bridge in the subcontinent. On its south side is the Lalon Shah Bridge.
According to the Pakshi Railway Office, the then Governor General of India, Lord Hardinge, officially inaugurated the bridge. Since then, the bridge has been opened for passenger vehicles and trains to pass over it. It was named after him.
According to the information of Bangladesh Railway Additional Director General (Infrastructure) Arifuzzaman, Divisional Railway Pakshi Office Manager Shah Sufi Nur Mohammad and Chief Engineer (West) Rajshahi Asadul Haque, 24,400 workers started work from February 1912 and completed it in December 1914. The bridge’s 15 spans have a length between two bearings of 345 feet and a half inches and a height of 52 feet. Each span weighs 1,250 tons, which is 1,300 tons including the rail line. In addition to the 15 spans, the bridge has three additional land spans on both sides.
Veteran professor and freedom fighter Abul Kalam Azad, who researched the historical monuments of Pakshi Hardinge Bridge and Ishwardi, said that the age of the Hardinge Bridge has crossed 110 years and has reached 111 years. During the centenary celebrations, experts inspected the bridge and said that if properly renovated and maintained, it could last for at least 25 more years.
Pakshi Divisional Bridge Engineer Anwar Hossain said that after conducting research on the bridge and testing the iron structure in 2015, the researchers said that it would last for another 25 years. As a result, the bridge will remain operational until 2040. Even then, the government has plans to build another new railway bridge next to it. The feasibility study and design of the new bridge are ongoing.
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