Vivekananda Setu

The bridge was originally called Bally Bridge after the Bally area near the Hooghly River. It was later renamed Vivekananda Setu in honor of Swami Vivekananda, who is associated with the nearby Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission founded in 1897. The bridge opened in 1932 during British colonial rule.

Yes, Vivekananda Setu is a multi-span steel bridge that simultaneously accommodates both road and railway traffic. It carries railway lines connecting the Sealdah-Dankuni corridor on one level while road vehicles travel on another, linking Kolkata to Howrah across the Hooghly River in West Bengal.

No, there are multiple bridges across the Hooghly River in this region. The most famous is the Howrah Bridge (officially Rabindra Setu), opened in 1943, and a newer cable-stayed bridge called Nivedita Setu was inaugurated in 2007. Vivekananda Setu, dating from 1932, remains a critical crossing despite being the oldest of these spans.

The bridge has been in continuous operation since 1932, making it over 90 years old. The steel cantilever structure remains functional for both rail and road traffic, but authorities have implemented weight restrictions and periodic maintenance checks due to age-related wear and the heavy daily volume of vehicles and trains it carries.