Nehru Setu
Encyclopedia
Nehru Setu (earlier referred to as the Upper Son Bridge), across the Son River
, between Dehri-on-Son
and Son Nagar
, in Bihar
, is the second longest railway bridge in India, after Vembanad Rail Bridge
in Kerala. However, the latter is meant only for goods traffic.
, it flows straight across the plain to the Ganges. For much of this distance it is over two miles – and at one point, opposite Tilothu – three miles wide. In the dry weather there is vast expanse of sand, with a stream not more than a hundred yards wide, and the hot west winds pile up the sand on the east bank, making natural embankments. After heavy rain in the hills even this wide bed cannot carry the waters of the Son and disastrous floods in Shahabad, Gaya, and Patna are not uncommon.”
line via Gaya reduced the distance by 80 km.The main line crosses the Son over the Koilwar bridge
and the Dehri-Son Nagar bridge accommodates the Grand Chord line.
Steel girders resting on 93 stone pillars, each a hundred feet apart, forms the rail bridge. The total length of the bridge over abutments is 3064 metres (10,052.5 ft). It was opened for traffic on 27 February 1900.
When it was built, it was the longest bridge in India and was believed to be the second longest bridge in the world.Subsequently, longer road bridges were built but it remained the longest rail bridge for many years.The opening of the 4.62 km Vembanad Rail Bridge, connecting the Container Transshipment Terminal on Vallarpadam Island to Edappally, in February 2011, pushed it to the second position.
, the road bridge carrying NH 2
and running parallel to the Nehru Setu, was constructed in 1963–65.
The Government of Bihar sanctioned in 2008, a bridge across the Son River connecting Arwal
and Sahar in Bojpur district
.
The Koilwar bridge
preceded the Nehru Setu and was opened in 1862.A four-lane road bridge, carrying NH 30
, parallel to the existing rail and road Koilwar Bridge, has been planned.
An anicut was constructed across the Son, a little upstream of the present Nehru Setu and Jawahar Setu, in 1873–74. The Indrapuri Barrage
was constructed, 8 km upstream, and commissioned in 1968.
Son River
Son River of central India is the largest of the Ganges' southern tributaries. A British 1850s diary shows that the river was written in English as Soane.-Course:...
, between Dehri-on-Son
Dehri
Dehri On Sone is a city and a municipality in Rohtas district in the state of Bihar, India. It is a Sub Division under Patna Division and Headquarter of The Bihar Military Police as well as The Police headquarters of the Sahabad Range...
and Son Nagar
Son Nagar
Son Nagar Junction is a railway station in Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is located on the east bank of the Son River and was earlier known as Son East Bank-History:...
, in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, is the second longest railway bridge in India, after Vembanad Rail Bridge
Vembanad Rail Bridge
Vembanad Rail Bridge in the state of Kerala is a rail connecting Edappally and Vallarpadam in Kochi . It is the longest rail bridge in India. The line is dedicated only for goods traffic.-Construction :...
in Kerala. However, the latter is meant only for goods traffic.
The Son river
John Houlton describes the Son as follows, “After passing the steep escarpments of the Kaimur rangeKaimur hills
Kaimur Range is the eastern portion of the Vindhya Range, about long, extending from around Katangi in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh to around Sasaram in Rohtas district of Bihar. It passes through the Rewa and Mirzapur divisions...
, it flows straight across the plain to the Ganges. For much of this distance it is over two miles – and at one point, opposite Tilothu – three miles wide. In the dry weather there is vast expanse of sand, with a stream not more than a hundred yards wide, and the hot west winds pile up the sand on the east bank, making natural embankments. After heavy rain in the hills even this wide bed cannot carry the waters of the Son and disastrous floods in Shahabad, Gaya, and Patna are not uncommon.”
The Grand Chord
When the railway line between Kolkata and Delhi was first laid, it passed through Bhagalpur, Lakhisarai, Patna and Mughalsarai, covering a distance of 1,636 km. Subsequently, the Grand ChordGrand Chord
Grand Chord- also known as The Life line of India is a section of the Indian Railways and is one of the two parts of the main Delhi-Howrah route. It acts as a link between Sitarampur, and Mughal Sarai, Uttar Pradesh, and covers a stretch of 450 km...
line via Gaya reduced the distance by 80 km.The main line crosses the Son over the Koilwar bridge
Koilwar bridge
Koilwar Bridge, now named Abdul Bari Bridge, at Koilwar spans the River Sone. The bridge has been named after Professor Abdul Bari.The Koilwar Bridge is amongst the older of the longer bridges in this subcontinent. Although construction started in 1856, it was disrupted by uprisings in 1857 and...
and the Dehri-Son Nagar bridge accommodates the Grand Chord line.
Steel girders resting on 93 stone pillars, each a hundred feet apart, forms the rail bridge. The total length of the bridge over abutments is 3064 metres (10,052.5 ft). It was opened for traffic on 27 February 1900.
When it was built, it was the longest bridge in India and was believed to be the second longest bridge in the world.Subsequently, longer road bridges were built but it remained the longest rail bridge for many years.The opening of the 4.62 km Vembanad Rail Bridge, connecting the Container Transshipment Terminal on Vallarpadam Island to Edappally, in February 2011, pushed it to the second position.
Surroundings
Jawahar SetuJawahar Setu
Jawahar Setu is across the Son River, between Dehri-on-Son and Son Nagar, in the Indian state of Bihar. It is named after the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru....
, the road bridge carrying NH 2
National Highway 2 (India)
National Highway 2 , commonly referred as Delhi-Kolkata Road is a busy Indian National Highway that runs through the states of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It constitute a major portion of historical Grand Trunk Road along with NH 91 and NH 1 in India...
and running parallel to the Nehru Setu, was constructed in 1963–65.
The Government of Bihar sanctioned in 2008, a bridge across the Son River connecting Arwal
Arwal
Arwal is the administrative headquarters of Arwal district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Geography:Arwal is located at . It has an average elevation of . The district headquarters is at the bank of Sone river. The state capital, patna is 65 km to the north...
and Sahar in Bojpur district
Bhojpur district, Bihar
Bhojpur district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India. Arrah town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-History:...
.
The Koilwar bridge
Koilwar bridge
Koilwar Bridge, now named Abdul Bari Bridge, at Koilwar spans the River Sone. The bridge has been named after Professor Abdul Bari.The Koilwar Bridge is amongst the older of the longer bridges in this subcontinent. Although construction started in 1856, it was disrupted by uprisings in 1857 and...
preceded the Nehru Setu and was opened in 1862.A four-lane road bridge, carrying NH 30
National Highway 30 (India)
National Highway 30 is a National Highway entirely within the state of Bihar, India that links NH 2 to NH 19. This long stretch passes through Mohania, Kochas, Dinara, Bikramganj, Arrah, Koilwar,, Maner, Maner Sharif, Danapur, Patna, Fatuha and Bakhtiarpur in Bihar.- See also :* List of National...
, parallel to the existing rail and road Koilwar Bridge, has been planned.
An anicut was constructed across the Son, a little upstream of the present Nehru Setu and Jawahar Setu, in 1873–74. The Indrapuri Barrage
Indrapuri Barrage
Indrapuri Barrage is across the Son River in Rohtas district in the Indian state of Bihar.-The Barrage:The Sone Barrage at Indrapuri is long and is the fourth longest barrage in the world...
was constructed, 8 km upstream, and commissioned in 1968.
See also
- List of longest bridges in the world
- List of longest bridges above water in India