2018-07-03 Tue

Vidyasagar Setu, also known as Second Howrah Bridge, is a toll bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal. This bridge is linking the cities of Kolkata and Howrah.

Named after the educationist reformer Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, its construction was begun on 3 July 1979. The bridge was commissioned on 10 October 1992 by the Hooghly River Bridge Commission. Foundation stone for the bridge was laid by Indira Gandhi on 20 May 1972.

The bridge took more than 22 years to complete and cost Indian Rupees 3.88 billion, but in seven of those years, there was no construction activity. It was designed by Schalaich Bergermann & Partner and checked by Freeman Fox & Partners and Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Limited. Vidyasagar Setu is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India and one of the longest in Asia with a total length of 823 metres.

A commemorative stamp was issued by India Post on 2007.

Image Source: Google Images