The Hindu : National : Surat’s 131-year-old bridge to be demolished

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Surat’s 131-year-old bridge to be demolished

Surat: The Gujarat government has decided to dismantle the 131-year-old Hope Bridge over the river Tapi here, because its structure has reportedly become unstable and unsafe for traffic.

The Standing Committee of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) passed a resolution in 2003 recommending its demolition. “We recently received permission from the Gujarat government,” said Surat Municipal Commissioner S. Aparna. The civic body banned vehicular traffic on the bridge in 1999 and recently declared it unsafe even for pedestrians and joggers.

Experts examined the bridge and found that it was unstable.

The foundation for the city’s oldest bridge that connects Chowk Bazaar and Rander was laid by the then District Collector and Magistrate Theodore Hope in 1864. Built at a cost of Rs. 8.13 lakh, it was dedicated to the public on May 1, 1877.

Till 1960, it was the only bridge over the Tapi in the Diamond City. The Nehru Bridge adjoining it was built in 1966 and the Sardar and Swami Vivekanand bridges in 1992 and 1996.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National