Godavari Bridge

Kovvur-Rajahmundry Bridge or the Godavari Bridge has been a truss bridge which spans the River Godavari located in Rajahmundry in India. It is the 2nd longest rail-cum-road bridge which crosses the water body while the first being Sky Gate Bridge of Kansai International Airport in Osaka. It has been one of the 3 bridges spanning the river Godavari at Rajahmundry. There has been Havelock Bridge, the oldest one constructed in 1897 which serves the full utility and got decommissioned in the year 1997. Godavari Arch Bridge is the latest one and is a bowstring-girder bridge again constructed in 1997 and is currently in service as well.

The length of the bridge is 2.7 kilometers and it comprises of 27 spans out of 91.4 m while 7 spans having 45.72 m length and 6 spans being 45.72m long have 6 deg. curves at the long end of Rajahmundry for making up for the constructed area. The bridge comprises of a road deck over the one track deck of rail just like the Grafton Bridge located in New South Wales, Australia. The Godavari Bridge besides the Godavari Arch Bridge represents Rajahmundry widely as far as arts, culture and media are concerned. It is regarded as one of the most renowned symbols of Rajahmundry.

Geography

The road-cum-rail bridge is being constructed across the river Godavari which is regarded as the largest river of South India encompassing more than 1,000 kms length because it has its entrance into the reach of delta prior to debouching into sea which is 60 kms downstream of bridge. In the close proximity of Rajahmundry at location of bridge, there is a flow of river which is 2.7 km wide and has been split in 2 channels forming an island in between. The utmost discharge being reported in the river is almost 3 million m3/s along with a highest velocity of 5 m/s water flow.

Description of the Bridge

Construction

According to the Third Five-Year plan, there were plans going on to double the railway track from Chennai to Howrah. So, the route was doubling except small track stretch between Kovvur and Rajahmundry and there was construction of a bridge on Godavari River. It was during 1964 when the building of 2nd bridge got sanctioned. However, the locals of the region wanted to have a road route which might link districts of West Godavari and East Godavari.

Specifications

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh put forward a proposal for adding a road deck on that rail bridge as a part of construction for doubling the Chennai-Howrah railway track.

Accomplishment

The construction of the bridge began in the 1970s by Braithwaite, Jessop & Burn and the construction company which had been a group of Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Ltd. When accomplished it became the longest rail-cum-road bridge of Asia. The inauguration of the bridge was done by Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the then President of India in the year 1977.

Sister Bridges

Old Godavari Bridge

The Havelock Bridge or the Old Godavari Bridge got constructed by Mr. F.T.G. Walton in 1900 having 56 spans of 2754 m length. It got built with stone masonry along with the steel girders. There is an exemplary British engineering done with marvel. New Godavari Bridge came up as its substitution.

Godavari Arch Bridge

The Godavari Arch Bridge has been the newest bridge which had been built by the Hindustan Construction Company. It is a bridge having a glimpse of modern era feat of engineering. The bridge has been formed of arches with bow string girders. The bridge remains to be suitable for 350 km/h service of rail.

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