• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
 1
Over bridges are built between the twobanks of the river at height above themaximum flood level (mfl). Themiddle and upper class people whocross the river through their fastmoving vehicles do not have even aniota of consciousness that they arecrossing a river. On the other handthe causeways (ground bridges) helpthe poor people to recognize and makeuse of it either properly or improperly,the vacant spaces that have beenprovided by these bridges. Moreoverthese, causeways have generatedlivelihood opportunities for the low-income groups by accessing the rivereasily. A structure built to provide ready passage over natural or artificial obstacles, or under anotherpassageway. Bridges serve highways, railways, canals, aqueducts, utility pipelines, andpedestrian walkways. In many jurisdictions, bridges are defined as those structures spanning anarbitrary minimum distance, generally about 10–20 ft (3–6 m); shorter structures are classifiedas culverts or tunnels. In addition, natural formations eroded into bridge like form are oftencalled bridges. This article covers only bridges providing conventional transportation
Bridges in Vaigai River
S.RengasamyFaculty MemberMadurai Institute of Social Sciences
 Acknowledgements:Bridges in Vaigai River was written with the field work support by
Mr. Karunakaran
(Community Development2001- 2003 Batch of MSW) and modified for this article. All the photographs for this article are taken by
Udayakumar
(Community Development 2005-2007 Batch) of MSW.
Bridge is a structure, usually of wood, stone, brick, or iron, erected over a river or other water course,or over a chasm, railroad, etc., to make a passageway from one bank to the other. Bridges havebecome an indispensable adjunct of the modern transport system. Though bridges are physicalstructures, it makes serious alterations in human consciousness. If there is no structure or facility toovercome a physical barrier, everyone in his or her attempt to overcome it develops a conscious of their own, thereby develop a unique consciousness of their own. When a man crosses a river throughboats or by lay foot, he is very much conscious that he is crossing a river. But when he crosses theriver using a bridge, he loses the same consciousness. A bridge is a gain as well as a lossBridges with all its indispensability have a sedative value also. Helping us to forget the barriers thatwe are subjected to. But we have to remember that it is that barrier, be a river or a mountain has itsown intrinsic value and it is a barrier only in certain aspects. A river may be a barrier, obstructing ourmobility, but it at the same time it enables us in other ways. But alas, the barrier overcomingstructures slowly make us to forget the intrinsic value of the barrier. This forgetfulness of one’sintrinsic value by using bridges slowly creates other problems.Bridges over the rivers have side effects likemedicine…it cures certain illness but at the same time itbrings new ailments.This logic is applicable to the bridges constructed acrossthe Vaigai River running within the Madurai city. Bridgesover Vaigai helped the city to expand, provideddynamism to city life. Since a bridge across a River is animportant landmark in a city like Madurai, apart fromtransport, bridges are also used creatively in a differentways…. to threaten and intimidate the people, to showone’s strength by blocking the bridge, to advertise, tomake propaganda and for ordinary people to generatelivelihoods. Furthermore, it is rumored that theconstruction of bridges across the river has provided anopportunity for graft and corruption.If we take a bridge is a public investment, it definitelycreates a multiplier effect. What impact the bridges over
 
 2
There may be bridges exist in the world.Tallest, Longest, Shortest. But forMaduraites, bridge means it is VictorBride over River Vaiai.
the river Vaigai have created? Understanding the bridges in Madurai is necessary to understand theancient yet this emerging modern city.The bridges across river Vaigai can be classified into three categories as follows:1.
 
Over bridges2.
 
Cause ways3.
 
Railway bridges (1985, 1995)
Over bridges in Vaigai River:
Over the past 120 years five over bridges have been built across the Vaigai River running in theMadurai City. The details of these bridges and its utility are given below.
 Albert Victor Over Bridge: (1889)
 One of the important landmarks in Madurai City is Albert Victor Bridge. Although it is more than acentury old since it was built, it stands with majesticity. It is named after the engineer Albert Victorwho designed it. It is strange that in these days, politicians when keep on changing the old Britishnames of public places have not attempted to alter the name of this bridge.This bridge has contributed in a greater measure for the growth of the Madurai City over the years.Today this Bridge is converted into one way traffic zone. In those old days when there was no trafficcongestion, the bridge was used as a bus stop. Even 20 years before the slow moving vehicles suchas cycles, cycle rickshaws and bullock carts have been prohibited from using this bridge. The ban hasmade several types of vehicles obsolete and demandswere made from time to time to lift such a ban. As this bridge is an important traffic junction, it iscustomary for political parties to create roadblocks andcausing transport bottlenecks on this bridge in order toattract attention of the government and the Maduraipublic. By blocking this bridge, many organizationshave used this as a strategy to get into the negotiatingtable.This bridge has been considered as an auspicious oneso for. Speeding vehicles during its entire checkeredhistory of 120 years have not fallen into the river bydamaging the parapet walls of the bridge.Famous Albert Victor Bridge, the oldest link between North and South Madurai. River Vaigai flowsfrom West to East and divides Madurai into North Madurai and South Madurai. Apart from some obscure causeways, this AV Bridge was the main link between North and SouthMadurai for a number of years. It is Madurai’s Brooklyn Bridge.Many of the Maduraiites do not know that the warranty period for the Bridge is over. The EnglishEngineer gave it a life of a hundred years and now it is 120 years old, but is still in a goodcondition. It is an integral part of our lives. I am posting a picture of the bridge here.On the advice of experts the load on AV Bridge has been cut into half by building another bridgeparallel to it for traffic flowing from South to North.It is a thrilling experience to walk on the side platform on the bridge when vehicles are swishingpast you in great speed. And there is also a problem. Almost all people cross the bridge only invehicles. Even the low-income group uses a bus to cross the bridge. Only the poorest of the poorwalk over the bridge.When you walk on the bridge people always tend to look down on you. People looking from thewindows of the buses, throw sympathetic looks at you. At first it was embarrassing for me. Butthen I thought that this feeling of embarrassment is part of the penance. Varalotti. Indus Ladies,com
 
 3
Different views of Kamarajar Bridge – the second over bridge constructed in Vaigai River. The ProjectVaigai Renovation starts from this bridge- that is why thorny bushes are cleared on one side and onthe other side it is uncleared
Many intellectuals have been drawn unaware towards the beauty, grace majesticity and breadth of this bridge. This enchantment towards the bridge has made them to praise the engineering expertiseof the colonial era. “There is no peer for the Britishers; they had built better bridges than our present day engineers.” Such is the common refrain among the Madurai City dwellers while commenting on the design andstandard of the modern bridges built by Indian engineers. This bridge has been quoted as anexample of British technical excellence.When Lord Azhagar descends on River Vaigai, Thousands and thousands of people witness thisspectacle from this bridge. Also when Vaigai River is in spate, people rejoice the floodwaters fromover this bridge. Writing advertisements on the walls of this bridge has been prohibited. When therewas no such ban, the Dravidar Kazhagam, which is not a political party and other progressive politicalmovements have put these walls to good use caricaturing and for writing attractive slogans.
Kamarajar Bridge: (1961)
 When Madurai’s bye pass road was constructed, this bridge was built and was inaugurated by PanditJawaharlal Nehru in 1961. Though this bridge is named after late Thiru. Kamaraj, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the local people calls it by very many names of their choice. As this bridgeis near Theekkadir (Marxist Daily) office, it is called as Theekkadir Bridge. As it is also near FatimaCollege, it is called as Fatima College Bridge; also called as Guru Theatre Bridge. This bridge as apart of Madurai’s bye-pass transport has been highly helpful for the city’s traffic and its expansion.
Palam Station Bridge:
Ordinary people “enjoy” the bridge and powerful people “use” the bridge to their advantage. See the Vinylboards put up in the bridge
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...