Twin bridges: 2007 Nivedita Setu (left) and 1932 Vivekananda Setu (right), from the Hooghly River
The 1932 Vivekananda Setu had become weak as a result of ageing and with heavy traffic even repairs became difficult. There was need for a second bridge.[2]
The main challenge was to design and construct a new bridge that did not mar the view of the old Vivekananda Setu, did not dwarf the historically important Dakshineswar Kali Temple which is located well within visible distance, and carry substantially higher levels of fast traffic for around half a century.[3]
The bridge rests on deep-well foundations going down to the river bed level. It carries six lanes for high speed traffic. The carriageway is supported by 254 pre-stressed concrete girders. Cables from 14m high pylons extend additional support.[3]
Nivedita Setu is the first bridge in the country that is a single profile cable-stayed bridge. By design, the height of the columns are lower than the tip of the Dakshineswar temple.[3]
Construction
This bridge is estimated to cost approximately Rs. 6,50 crore. The construction of the bridge started in April 2004, by the construction giant Larsen and Toubro and was opened to traffic in a record time in July 2007.
The bridge is the India's first multi-span, single-plane cable-supported extradosed bridge; with short pylons and seven continuous spans of 110 m, totaling a length of 880 m (2,887 feet). It is 29 m wide and supports 6 lanes of traffic.[2][3]
Award
Nivedita Setu has won an Award of Excellence from the American Segmental Bridge Institute, USA.[4]
Toll
Category of Vehicles
Fee per vehicle per one way trip w.e.f. 04.07.2023
Class-1 - Car, Passenger Van or Jeep
Rs 65
Class-2 - Bus
Rs 125
Class-3 - Light Good Vehicle (LGV)
Rs 175
Class-4 - Truck
Rs 300
Class-5 - Multi Axle vehicles (MAV), Earth Moving Equipment (EME) and Heavy Construction Machinery (HCM) including without limitation, oversized vehicles carrying boilers , turbines generators
