<p>The 80-year-old iconic Howrah Bridge, which connects the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata over the Hooghly river, will undergo a detailed health checkup after a gap of 11 years, said a top official of Kolkata port that maintains the structure.</p>.<p>The comprehensive health checkup of the cantilever bridge will be done in consultation with IIT Madras, Kolkata port chairman Rathendra Raman said.</p>.<p>The proposed exercise will be taken up in addition to the routine maintenance of the bridge, he said.</p>.<p>"We have decided to conduct an in-depth study on the health of the Howrah Bridge, which hasn't been done for over a decade. This study will provide us with valuable insights on how to improve the bridge's lifespan," Raman said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>A comprehensive health checkup of the bridge was previously conducted 11 years ago, with the expertise of RITES, another official said.</p>.<p>The Howrah Bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu, with 405 metres in length and 21.6 metres in width, is considered a symbol of Kolkata since its inauguration in 1943.</p>.<p>The bridge was taken up for construction after a commission under the chairmanship of Sir R N Mukherjee in 1926 recommended a suspension bridge of a particular type to be built across the Hooghly river.</p>.<p>The port authorities had already started working to scrap the bituminous road surface on the 80-year-old structure and a new layer would be laid to reduce the bridge's load.</p>.<p>The National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC), a division of IIT Madras, will advise the authorities for the comprehensive study, the port chairman said.</p>.<p>Raman stated that if necessary, another expert consultant would be appointed to assist the port authorities in the initiative.</p>.<p>Every day, the Howrah Bridge facilitates the passage of approximately 80,000 vehicles and 400,000 pedestrians, becoming an integral part of their daily lives.</p>.<p>Recognising the bridge's immense importance, the Kolkata port, now known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, aims at securing its future and preserving the technological marvel, another senior official said.</p>.<p>The scope of the study is yet to be finalised but experts would closely examine issues such as corrosion and fatigue that the bridge had been facing, he said.</p>.<p>"The goal is to identify effective strategies to address these challenges and to ensure the longevity of the bridge," the official added.</p>
<p>The 80-year-old iconic Howrah Bridge, which connects the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata over the Hooghly river, will undergo a detailed health checkup after a gap of 11 years, said a top official of Kolkata port that maintains the structure.</p>.<p>The comprehensive health checkup of the cantilever bridge will be done in consultation with IIT Madras, Kolkata port chairman Rathendra Raman said.</p>.<p>The proposed exercise will be taken up in addition to the routine maintenance of the bridge, he said.</p>.<p>"We have decided to conduct an in-depth study on the health of the Howrah Bridge, which hasn't been done for over a decade. This study will provide us with valuable insights on how to improve the bridge's lifespan," Raman said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>A comprehensive health checkup of the bridge was previously conducted 11 years ago, with the expertise of RITES, another official said.</p>.<p>The Howrah Bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu, with 405 metres in length and 21.6 metres in width, is considered a symbol of Kolkata since its inauguration in 1943.</p>.<p>The bridge was taken up for construction after a commission under the chairmanship of Sir R N Mukherjee in 1926 recommended a suspension bridge of a particular type to be built across the Hooghly river.</p>.<p>The port authorities had already started working to scrap the bituminous road surface on the 80-year-old structure and a new layer would be laid to reduce the bridge's load.</p>.<p>The National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC), a division of IIT Madras, will advise the authorities for the comprehensive study, the port chairman said.</p>.<p>Raman stated that if necessary, another expert consultant would be appointed to assist the port authorities in the initiative.</p>.<p>Every day, the Howrah Bridge facilitates the passage of approximately 80,000 vehicles and 400,000 pedestrians, becoming an integral part of their daily lives.</p>.<p>Recognising the bridge's immense importance, the Kolkata port, now known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, aims at securing its future and preserving the technological marvel, another senior official said.</p>.<p>The scope of the study is yet to be finalised but experts would closely examine issues such as corrosion and fatigue that the bridge had been facing, he said.</p>.<p>"The goal is to identify effective strategies to address these challenges and to ensure the longevity of the bridge," the official added.</p>