Cochin/ Kochi
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Revision as of 17:07, 5 May 2021
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Bridge across Bharathapuzha=The same caption as The Times of India's The floods of 2019…=
Sep 16, 2019: The Times of India
117-year-old Cochin bridge lies in ruins
PALAKKAD: The 117-year-old Cochin bridge across Bharathapuzha that had connected Malabar with Kochi and Travancore in 1902 may soon disappear as most of it has fallen into the river in this year's flood. "Though there were demands to preserve the bridge that had historical and architectural value, no steps were taken by the authorities to protect it from the ruin," said Prasad Shoranur, an environmentalist for the protection of Bharathapuzha and its heritage. In 2009, a pillar of the bridge had collapsed and later many of them collapsed and fell into the river. In last year's flood, its top portions fell into the river, he added. The bridge was constructed by Rama Varma Thampuran, the then ruler of Cochin State who reigned from 1895 to 1914, at a cost of Rs 84 lakh. The first freight train passed through the bridge on June 2, 1902, and on June 16, the first passenger train travelled from Shoranur to Kochi. It was constructed with British assistance by John Kenward, (a concrete contractor from Regina) based on a James Barney Marsh double arch design. It is 300-metre-long with 15 spans. The bridge was closed for traffic in 1989 due to damages and the new Cochin bridge was constructed across Bharathapuzha.
