Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD/CN)

Bantwal, Aug 27: Efforts to save the more than a century old steel-fabricated bridge, linking Panemangalore and B C Road, across the Netravati river on national highway (NH) 48, were officially begun during the ‘save historical landmarks week’, being observed by the History Academy.

The union and state governments were urged to preserve the historical bridge, with the tahsildar symbolically applying red oxide to the structure. The British era steel bridge has been facing neglect since the construction of the RCC bridge, parallel to it on NH 48. Vegetation has grown wild all over the slabs and on the bridge.

Panemangalore, where the is located, was once a flourishing trading centre. History records state that initially, a temporary bridge was laid in 1818 for facilitating movement of cargo on bullock-carts and horses. However, this was unsafe during the monsoons.

A century later, in 1918, the British brought in the steel-fabricated bridge manufactured by Morgan England and assembled it here. The work of laying the bridge faced setbacks in 1921, after both ends were damaged by incessant rains. They were then restored using the steel beams manufactured by Tata Steel.

The first signs of weakening of  the bridge were noticed on May 22, 2002, when a section of supporting beams were found to have shrunk by half a feet after an iron ore-laden truck (with an approximate 40 ton capacity), passed over the bridge.

Following this, traffic was banned and automobiles had to take the roundabout routes or be ferried by barges across the Netravati river. The slow phase of laying the new RCC bridge then gained momentum and it was completed in record time.

The historical bridge can last for another century if only it’s painted with red oxide to protect the beams from corrosion.