The Howrah Division of the Eastern Railway is reconstructing two crucial bridges of the Raj-era, including the Benaras Bridge and the Chandmari Bridge at a sanctioned cost of Rs 70.69 crore and Rs 173.94 crore respectively.
The Benaras Bridge, constructed in 1904, and Chandmari Bridge, constructed in 1933. According to the Eastern Railway, both the bridges have significantly surpassed their intended service life and have remained under continuous technical observation due to visible deterioration and weakening of critical structural elements.
According to the zonal railway, given the age and deteriorated condition of the existing bridges, timely completion is essential to ensure the safety of road users and the safe functioning of rail operations. Any prolonged delay in completing the approaches may, over time, also affect operational flexibility for suburban services and important mail and express trains operating from Howrah station.
Considering the fact, the Howrah Division of the ER has undertaken the reconstruction project of both the bridges. As learnt, the sanctioned cost for the Benaras Bridge project is Rs 70.69 crore and the sanctioned cost for the Chandmari Bridge project is Rs 173.94 crore. The railways has already completed the full construction of portions of the main bridge located within railway land for both projects. The remaining works, which involve construction of the road approaches situated outside railway boundaries, require formal administrative approval for road traffic regulation from the state government that are being awaited. According to the ER office, the railways has formally approached the state administration through written communications issued on 18 April, 2025, 25 June, 2025, 10 October, 2025 and 14 November, 2025. Several meetings have also been held with the concerned departments to convey the urgency and public safety significance of completing the approaches at the earliest. The required permissions for undertaking the remaining work have not yet been issued.
As informed by the general manager of ER, Millind Deoskar, the authorities are planning to construct the approach roads of the Benaras Bridge first and then similar work near the Chandmari Bridge, the construction of which has reached an advanced stage would be taken ahead.