Cracks spotted on Howrah's Chandmari bridge, locals blame railways

A wave of fear and public anger swept across Howrah on Tuesday morning after a visible crack suddenly appeared on the highly frequented Chandmari Bridge, also known as Bangalbabu Bridge, raising immediate alarms about the safety of a crucial piece of urban infrastructure. This ancient rail overbridge is vital for commuters, serving as a primary link connecting the busy Central Howrah region with the expansive North Howrah areas, including Bali, Belur, and Liluah. The unsettling development on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares has placed the focus sharply back on the persistent issue of structural maintenance and accountability.

The crack, which surfaced on the bridge's guardrail and adjacent footpath, immediately caught the attention of residents who use the arterial route daily. Despite the visible structural damage and the escalating panic among commuters and nearby dwellers, authorities have, for the time being, maintained the normal flow of traffic across the bridge, a decision that many locals view with deep apprehension and skepticism. The overbridge’s age and constant, heavy usage amplify the urgency of the matter.

While the exact technical reason for the crack remains officially unclear, residents are pointing fingers directly at the massive construction activities taking place nearby. The railways are currently undertaking the construction of a new flyover right next to the Bangalbabu Bridge, a project intended to eventually reduce the pressure on the aging structure. Residents firmly believe that continuous vibrations and heavy impacts from the ongoing construction work are responsible for causing the fissures in the guardrail and sidewalk of the old bridge.

The incident quickly triggered a political and administrative showdown. The Howrah Municipality took an aggressive stance, with the chairman of its board of administrators, Sujoy Chakraborty, publicly expressing deep concern and registering a direct complaint against the Railways. Chakraborty vehemently questioned the Railways' sense of responsibility and demanded accountability for the apparent damage caused to the vital municipal structure due to their construction methods.

In response to the public outcry and the formal complaint from the municipal body, the Railways have stated that they are treating the entire matter with utmost urgency. The Chief Public Relations Officer confirmed that a high-level meeting has been convened for Tuesday to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the crack. While the Railways' official statement acknowledged the rift and the public concern, it stressed that the cause remains unknown and requires a complete technical assessment before any conclusive action is taken.