Godavari Arch Bridge, Railway bridge in Rajahmundry, India
Godavari Arch Bridge is a railway crossing with 28 identical twin arches that stretch across the Godavari River, linking both banks through a series of tall concrete spans. Each arch is supported by hangers that distribute the weight of the deck onto the curved girders, giving the structure its characteristic profile.
Planning started in the early 1980s to replace the old colonial-era Havelock Bridge, which had become too narrow for growing traffic. Work continued for several years and the first trains crossed the new structure in spring 1997.
The structure carries the name of the river that has shaped life in this region for centuries and is considered sacred by many. Workers and engineers from across India came to the city during construction, bringing skills that still appear in local building trades today.
The crossing is best seen from the riverbanks, especially early morning or late afternoon when trains move slowly across the arches. Visitors can walk to viewpoints on both sides of the river that offer clear sightlines of the full structure.
Each arch spans nearly 98 meters (321 feet), ranking among the longest concrete arch structures in Asia at the time of completion. Engineers used a method that cast the arches in place to achieve precise curves without temporary scaffolding.
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