Krishnapura bridge: 174 yrs on… strong but neglected

Indore: It had been standing there for almost 100 years when Madhya Bharat govt built Shastri Bridge. Today, 174-year-old Krishnapura bridge built over the Kanh river, continues to be a crucial artery for Indore's traffic while Shastri Bridge has started crumbling.Built by the Holkar State in 1849, long before the city's modernisation, the bridge stands as a symbol of a forgotten era of robust engineering, and is now in need of urgent maintenance."The Krishnapura bridge was constructed out of necessity. During 1800s, the Kanh river would swell during the monsoon, isolating the old city areas like Malharganj from the rest of the trade centres of those days. This disruption used to severely hamper commerce and travel, forcing people to cross the river using small boats (kashtis)," historian and conservationist Zafar Ansari told TOI."At the time, the city's entire trade revolved around Malharganj, Nandlalpura, and Sarafa, with goods transported primarily by bullock carts, horse-drawn carriages, and bicycles between the railway station and the central markets," he said.The decision to build the bridge was spearheaded by Boliyan Sarkar, the Superintendent Engineer of the erstwhile Holkar State. "To test its integrity, the newly-constructed bridge was subjected to a severe stress test by having a large number of elephants walk across it. As Indore's traffic volume grew, the original structure was later augmented with metal supports on both sides to create footpaths, improving pedestrian access," Ansari said."The Krishnapura bridge has been a silent witness to Indian history too. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi (1935) and Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Vinoba Bhave (post-independence) have all crossed this bridge," he said, adding that this bridge holds another historical distinction as Madhya Pradesh's first traffic signal was installed here in 1961.Today, the bridge ironically bears the load of severe congestion, often caused by traffic backing up due to traffic signals turning red, but its Holkar-era foundation remains steadfast. Nearby bridges, built much later on Jawahar Marg, have cracked and rebuild multiple times, underscoring the superior construction of the original Krishnapura structure, Ansari said.The Krishnapura bridge drew the attention after a portion of Shastri bridge caved in recently, prompting local administration to rope in experts to examine the bridge and plan its revamp.Dire Neglect, Urgent Need For Revamp Despite its historical significance and proven strength, the extremely aged bridge suffers from neglect. The banks and sides of the structure are severely impacted by the overgrowth of trees and shrubs, and a large amount of silt (gaad) has accumulated on both approaches. The lack of proper maintenance poses a long-term threat to the integrity of this crucial historical and traffic landmark.City authorities are being urged to recognise the bridge's heritage status and initiate immediate repairs and upkeep. Civil engineering experts have highlighted the need for immediate action.SGSITS head of department (civil engineering), professor Rakesh Khare, told TOI that while they were not approached by any authority for testing, the structure requires comprehensive assessment based on IRC (Indian Road Congress) standards, considering factors like vibration, silt, and erosion. He also pointed out that the traffic signal at Mrignayani Square causes vehicles to stop directly on the old bridge, necessitating specific structural analysis.IMC additional commissioner Shringar Shrivastava acknowledged the issue, stating, "You have brought the history and present condition of this old bridge to our notice. We will soon carry out a strengthening test of this old structure to decide the required efforts to maintain it, as this bridge is also of historical importance."Caption:This photograph from 1886 shows city's first bridge at Krishnapura, with a large number of people crossing itKrishnapura bridge as it stands todayA rare sketch from 1849 when the first bridge of Holkar State was constructed at Krishnapura, and no ‘Chhatri' had been built nearbPhoto courtesy Historian & Conservationist Zafar Ansari