Hardinge Bridge turns 100

Some fishermen were fishing in the Padma. Pointing to the Hardinge Bridge, one among them said to the other, "Look at the bridge, how big it is! Ever wonder how much all those iron would have cost?"

"Not less than Tk 500," replied the other stoically.

Heart of so many tales and memories, Hardinge Bridge became a centenarian on Wednesday.

The then undivided Indian government took the initiative of making this bridge for easier communication between Kolkata and Assam, Tripura, Nagaland and the North Bengal. The construction work began around 1910-11.

On 4 March 1915, Lord Hardinge, then viceroy of undivided India, inaugurated the bridge. The bridge was named after him.

It took about Tk 4 crore 75 lakh to construct this  5,940-feet long bridge with 15 spans.

The bridge has two broad-gauge railways and a footway. Bangladesh Railway is in charge of maintenance and security of the

bridge.

During the liberation war in 1971, the 12th span of the bridge was severely damaged due to a bomb attack. It was repaired later.

Hardinge Bridge has been synonymous to the identity of Pakshi town, which reinvented itself as a railway town after the bridge was constructed.

Abul Kalam Azad, convener of Hardinge Bridge, Ishwardy and Pakshi Town Centenary Celebration Committee, said, "Hardinge Bridge is a very important historic monument of our country. There should be a tourist centre around this bridge considering the large number of people it draws every day."