A bridge that’s got crossed over in time and neglect

The 776-metre long engineering marvel of a bridge was the first of its kind in Asia when it was built in 1932. The over 85-year-old magnificent stone masonry bridge across river Godavari at Soan village in present-day Nirmal district was built to improve road communication to remote parts in the erstwhile Hyderabad State.

Situated on the river border between Nirmal and Nizamabad districts, it has started deteriorating since it fell into disuse in 2009 when the traffic was diverted to the new twin bridges built by its side on the NH 44. Lack of conservation has only accelerated its disintegration during the last decade. Growth of fig and banyan trees from the crevices in the stones has led to the structure cracking up.

Part of heritage

“It was ahead of time,” Hyderabad convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) P. Anuradha Reddy pointed out. “It is part of our architectural history and Telangana’s historical pride,” she added.

Nizam’s apology

Its inaugural plaque, which had poetry in praise of the last Nizam of Hyderabad for commissioning such a gigantic task written by his ustad or tutor Jaleel Manakpuri, has vanished since it came into disuse.

The first verse on the plaque is said to have been an apology from the Nizam to the sacred Godavari for violating its flow by constructing the mighty bridge. The Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, is believed to have visited in 1351 Fasli, according to the calendar used in the Hyderabad State, corresponding to 1941 CE. “Its importance to the ruler can be ascertained from the fact that a silver model of the bridge was made during that time and can still be found in Purani Haveli Palace,” Ms. Reddy pointed out.

Needs to be preserved

“A descendent of the Nizam had carried it away, we were told,” recalled Soan fisherman Padigela Erranna looking rather sadly at the old structure. “This bridge needs to be saved,” he asserted, his eyes caressing the aesthetically arranged stones.

The bridge needs immediate attention in order to preserve it. “The roots of the fig trees need to be removed properly followed with herbicidal treatment,” opined Ms. Reddy.

“It is the task of experts and government or at least Nirmal and Nizamabad district administrations should fund the conservation effort,” she suggested.

However, there seems to be some information gap between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the R&B department in erstwhile united Adilabad district on the issue of jurisdiction over the bridge. The NHAI’s Nirmal Project Implementation Unit Project Director Hamed Ali told The Hindu that the R&B department normally assumes charge of any such old facility soon after the new structure relieves it of traffic. But R&B Superintending Engineer (SE) in erstwhile Adilabad district Md. Nazeer Ahmed said the old bridge is the lookout of the NHAI. Mr. Hamed Ali added that he would talk to the R&B SE in Nizamabad district to ascertain if the department has taken charge of the stone structure. The bridge is under the jurisdiction of both Nirmal and Nizamabad districts.