BHOPAL: Even after completing 150 years, a bridge in Madhya Pradesh is as good as any other new bridge. The Tawa railway bridge, under West Central Railway (WCR) on Itarsi-Jabalpur route on Tawa river, was constructed in 1870 and continues to remain in use. WCR said that special attention is being given for further use of the bridge.
CPRO (WCR), Rahul Jaipuriyar said that Tawa railway bridge is a heritage of Indian railway. “Even after such long time the bridge is still in use. WCR has given special attention to the bridge by regular inspection and other maintenance work,” said Jaipuriyar.
Asked about how long the bridge will continue for traffic, Jaipuriyar said that there was no problem as of now with regards to the bridge. “The technology used in the construction of the bridge 150 years ago has now stopped. Still, the bridge has continue offering its services as WCR has done a lot of work to maintain it,” said Jaipuriyar.
Before India’s independence, the East India Railway (EIR) and the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) played an important role in running trains and building railway lines in India. These two companies joined together in 1870 for the first rail-link between Mumbai and Calcutta in Jabalpur.
The 1,000-ft long bridge was regirded in 1927 after it was constructed in 1870. This bridge is located on Tawa river at a distance of 7 km from Tawa dam.
“This bridge has 2 spans of 132 ft and web girder below four span of 202 ft. Along with this, five piers and two abutments which are made of ashlar fine masonry of that time. The height of the bridge is 22 meters. The work of doubling of this section was commissioned by Indian Railways in February 2020. At present, an additional new Tawa bridge has been constructed by West Central Railway on Tawa river. In today's date, the capacity of the railway section has been increased after constructing up and down railway line on Tawa river,” added Jaipuriyar.
The original Tawa bridge and Bagaratwa tunnel on this railway line was completed withing 19 months on March 8, 1870 by Robert Maitland Brereton, civil engineer of East Indian Railway and Great Indian Peninsula Railway.
