For anyone who’s ever made the long train journey from Delhi to Kolkata, the mere mention of the Howrah Bridge conjures up more than just an image of steel and rivets. It’s a feeling, a palpable shift in the air that signals the journey’s end, the promise of home. For me, a child growing up in Delhi with deep roots in Kolkata, the sight of that colossal structure in the distance was always a moment of sheer wonder and burgeoning excitement.

Even now, decades later, when someone utters the name “Kolkata,” the first picture that flashes in my mind isn’t the bustling streets or the aroma of mishti doi, but the majestic silhouette of the Howrah Bridge against the horizon. It was, and still is, the undisputed sentinel of the city, a gateway that held the key to family, laughter, and the comforting chaos of our ancestral home.

Our train journeys were epic sagas, stretching over a day and a night. As a child, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the tracks was both lulling and monotonous. But as we neared Kolkata, a palpable energy would ripple through our compartment. Conversations would become more animated, bags would be shifted in anticipation, and eyes would constantly scan the passing landscape. Then, just after crossing Liluah, it would appear – a dark, imposing line against the sky. The Howrah Bridge.

Even from that distance, it held a certain mystique. It wasn’t just a bridge; it was a behemoth of steel, a testament to human ingenuity that seemed to defy gravity. As we drew closer, the intricate network of girders would become clearer, the sheer scale of it breathtaking. My young mind couldn’t quite grasp the fact that this enormous structure was held together not by countless nuts and bolts, but by thousands upon thousands of rivets, each one hammered into place with precision and strength. It was like a giant puzzle, meticulously pieced together.

I remember being told that it was built without any major support pillars in the river itself, a cantilever design that was revolutionary for its time. It seemed impossible, this massive roadway suspended seemingly in mid-air, carrying the weight of countless vehicles and people every single day. It weathered the fierce storms that brewed in the Bay of Bengal, a silent guardian standing firm against the elements.

Built over the Hooghly River, the Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge that connects the city of Kolkata with its twin city, Howrah. The bridge was designed by the renowned British engineer, Rendel Palmer and Tritton and was opened to the public in 1943. Since then, it has been an important part of Kolkata’s skyline and a popular tourist attraction.

The Howrah Bridge is a marvel of engineering and design. It is made of steel and is supported by two massive pillars on either side of the river. The bridge has a length of 705 meters and a width of 71 feet. It is suspended by 2,000 steel girders and has a total of 26,500 rivets holding it together.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Howrah Bridge is that it was built without any nuts or bolts. Instead, all the parts were welded or rivetted together to make it stronger and more durable. This technique was revolutionary at the time and was later adopted by engineers all over the world.

A rivet is used to join two materials together permanently and is able to withstand vibrations and tensions better than a screw or bolt. A rivet is a metal pin or bolt with a formed head on one end, used to fasten two or more pieces of material together by passing it through aligned holes and then hammering or pressing the other end to create a second head, thus securing the pieces in place.

The bridge weathers the storms of the Bay of Bengal region, carrying a daily traffic of approximately 100,000 vehicles and possibly more than 150,000 pedestrians, easily making it among the busiest cantilever bridges across the globe.

The third-longest cantilever bridge at the time of its construction, the Howrah Bridge is the sixth-longest bridge of its type in the world. The construction of bridge was started on 1936 and ended in 1942. It was opened for the public transport on 3 February 1943. The first vehicle to use the bridge was a solitary tram.

On June 14, 1965, the bridge was renamed Rabindra Setu after the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. However, it is still popularly known as Howrah Bridge.

The Howrah Bridge is not only a marvel of engineering but also a cultural icon. It has been featured in numerous films, songs, and books over the years. It has also become a symbol of Kolkata’s bustling street life, with hundreds of people crossing it every day on foot, bicycles, and vehicles.

Crossing the Howrah Bridge for the first time as a child was an experience in itself. Looking out of the taxi window, the Hooghly River stretched below, a shimmering expanse reflecting the sky. The sheer volume of traffic – trams clanging, buses lumbering, cars honking, and a constant stream of pedestrians – was overwhelming yet exhilarating. It was a sensory overload that painted a vivid picture of Kolkata’s vibrant pulse.

Even now, that first glimpse of the Howrah Bridge after a long journey evokes a wave of nostalgia. It’s more than just a landmark; it’s a marker of memories, a symbol of homecoming. While it was officially renamed Rabindra Setu in honor of the great Rabindranath Tagore, for most of us, it will always be the Howrah Bridge – the iron giant that stood tall and proud, a silent witness to generations of journeys and the enduring spirit of Kolkata.

If you ever find yourself in this incredible city, make sure to stand on its bustling pathways, feel the vibrations beneath your feet, and let the sheer scale of this engineering marvel fill you with the same sense of wonder that it instilled in a wide-eyed child on a train, so many years ago.