The Bascule bridge, which connects Kidderpore and Garden Reach with the rest of Calcutta, is undergoing a major renovation, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), the custodian of the 60-year-old structure, said on Wednesday. The ₹117.54 crore project will modernise the 1966-built bridge. Constructed by the Austrian firm, Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems AG, the structure is a double-leaf rolling bridge with its leaves opening to allow cargo ships to pass between Kidderpore Dock I and II. “The bridge is a cornerstone of our port’s logistics network,” said Rathendra Raman, chairperson of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. “We are not just preserving a historic landmark but enhancing the safety and speed of port operations.

Source: The Telegraph February 19, 2026 02:18 UTC