The city of Tiruchirappalli, famed for its towering Rockfort and the island temple of Srirangam, recently witnessed the literal collapse of a vital piece of its colonial history. The Kollidam Steel Girder Bridge, a 792-meter-long marvel of British engineering, stood for nearly a century as a lifeline between the mainland and the island of Srirangam. However, in August 2018, years of official neglect culminated in a catastrophic failure that saw its piers plunge into the swirling waters of the Kollidam River.
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| Old iron girder bridge, Trichy TN,built by the British.in.worldmapz.com |
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| Cast-iron girder bridge across Kollidam, Trichy .indiatimes.com |
The history of this crossing is layered with colonial milestones. While an earlier arched bridge was designed by Captain Edward Lawford in 1849 to commemorate the Madras Army officers who defended Trichinopoly in the 1750s, the steel girder structure we recognize today was a product of the late 1920s. Commissioned to handle the increasing logistical needs of the Raj, construction began in 1924 and was completed in 1928.
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| Cap. Edward Lawford, Madras Engineers bedales.org.uk |
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| Tiruchirappalli city TN. old narrow iron-girder bridge .en.wikipedia.org |
The bridge was a testament to the industrial prowess of the era. Its massive cast-iron girders were manufactured by Braithwaite & Company Engineers Limited in England and shipped to India for assembly. Resting on 24 sturdy masonry piers, the bridge was formally opened on January 24, 1929, by Viscount Goschen, the then Governor of Madras. For the British, such infrastructure was less about public welfare and more about the "milch cow" strategy—extracting resources from the hinterland to the harbors for export.
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| Gov. Madras Ist Viscount Goschen of Hawkhurst, en.wikipedia.org |
For over 85 years, the bridge remained rust-free and structurally sound, attracting tourists and engineers alike. However, its decline began when a new, wider bridge was constructed adjacent to it in 2014 to accommodate heavy traffic. Following the diversion of vehicles, the old bridge was relegated to pedestrians and cyclists, and eventually, into a state of total abandonment.
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| Trichy Tamil Nadu.Tiruchian - WordPress.com |
A Mute Spectator in Ruins
The collapse was not just a structural failure; it was a cultural loss. The bridge carried memorial plaques documenting the defense of Trichinopoly (1752-1754), a conflict involving Robert Clive and the Nawab of Arcot against the French-backed Chanda Sahib. It was a "mute spectator" to the very foundation of the British Empire in India.
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| Old Steel bridge, Trichy,TN thehidu.com |
Above image: The demolition of the heritage Kollidam bridge in July, 2023 was underway in The Highways Department decided to demolish the abandoned bridge after a portion of the structure was washed away during heavy flow in the river in 2018...........
Today, the broken spans of the Kollidam bridge serve as a somber reminder of the price of dereliction. While officials often prioritize modern replacements, the "historical connectivity" provided by such landmarks is irreplaceable. Preserving what remains is now imperative, ensuring that future generations can witness the engineering grit and the complex colonial narratives that shaped the heart of Tamil Nadu.
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2022/08/old-british-era-steel-bridge-across.html
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-bridge-across-river-cauvery.html
https://www.change.org/p/the-chief-minister-save-the-century-old-kollidam-steel-bridge
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65423278.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/78941775.
https://www.change.org/p/he-chief-minister-save-the-century-old-kollidam-steel-bridge
K. N. Jayaraman (Author: navrangindia.blogspot.com)
