A T M Nurun Nabi :
Hardinge Bridge is a steel railway bridge over the River Padma located at Paksey in western Pabna. It is named after Lord Hardinge, who was the Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916. The bridge is 1.8 kilometers (1.1m) long. Construction of the bridge began in 1910, though it was proposed at least 20 years earlier. It took almost 2 years for it to be completed, and trains started moving on it in 1915.
The Eastern Bengal Railway for easier communication between Calcutta and the then Eastern Bengal and Assam proposed the construction of a Railway Bridge over the Padma in 1889. Sir FJE Spring in 1902 prepared a report on the bridge. A technical committee reported that a bridge could be constructed at Sara crossing the lower Ganges between Paksey and Bheramara Upazila stations on the broad gauge railway from Khulna to Parbatipur Upazila. The construction of the bridge started in 1910 and finished two years later. The bridge comprises 15 steel trusses. The main girders are modified ‘Petit’ type.
The total cost of construction of the bridge, including the main spans, land spans, training work and approaches were 35,132,164. However, the most difficult task of the operation was river control or to make the impetuous river flow permanently under the bridge. For this, two guide banks of the ‘Bell-bound’ type named after JR Bell were built on either side, each totalling 4,000′ long extending 3,000′ above the bridge and 1,000′ downstream. The ends of the riverbanks were curved inward and heavily pitched with stoned boulders.
Hardinge Bridge was severely damaged during the War for Independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Very soon, it was reconstructed.
In addition, in the breathtaking design and marvellous construction, the Hardinge Bridge has no rival to be compared in the world. The students of engineering colleges and universities in Europe and North America study the magnificent success of the British engineers in building this bridge about 100 years ago. Anyone visiting Paksey and the train passengers’ first want to see the said bridge to fulfil their longing.
Hardinge Bridge was commissioned to traffic in 1915 when the World War II was burning half of the world. It was constructed at such a time when Great Britain was involved in the fierce war against Germany and her allies. But the then government continued construction work regardless of the last effect of the war. In fact, the success of a project depends upon the good gesture of the government, the British people proved.
However, the specialty of the bridge is its imposing design and marvellous construction. Perhaps, very few railway bridges in the world can match Paksey in the field of design and construction. The double-lane broad gauge lines and a footpath have added extra dimension, which can be viewed from under the bridge and Paksey Station.
he best prize of Paksey is its friendly environment. As no bus or truck plies in the town, and as baby taxi and cab are seldom found moving with passengers, there is little possibility of the environment becoming polluted. As such, there is little chance of health hazard.
The best prize of Paksey is its friendly environment. As no bus or truck plies in the town, and as baby taxi and cab are seldom found moving with passengers, there is little possibility of the environment becoming polluted. As such, there is little chance of health hazard.
Another feature of Paksey is its large trees. Although the unscrupulous people chopped many large trees after independence, yet Paksey looks beautiful, especially at night owing to its geographical position. One travelling by train will be charmed when the train passes through Paksey Station and the Hardinge Bridge.
Looking at the dune of the Padma, the bite of the Farakka Barrage constructed on the Indian part of the river Padma becomes visible. The barrage was commissioned in late 70s, which dried up liver Padma and seriously affected GK Project in Kushtia. Paksey has been promoted as business centre following the construction of EPZ. Many new buildings have been constructed to increase the potentiality of the town. In addition, Paksey has green landscape, a thing of beauty for the tourists.
After completion of construction, the British government asked engineer Gale to demand his reward. He said: I want the riversides people to use the footpath separated from the railway tracks by a steel wall without paying toll. His proposal was agreed. Since then up till the first indo-Pakistan war in 1965, the riversides people walked from one end to other without paying toll.
Two trains can pass the river through the bridge from the opposite direction at a time at a speed of 60 miles.
