Coal India signs MoU with Kolkata Port Trust for illumination of Howrah Bridge

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Kolkata, June 10: Coal India Limited (CIL) and Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to install dynamic illumination on Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu).

The agreement, signed on Tuesday at Coal Bhawan, Kolkata, is part of CIL’s Golden Jubilee CSR initiatives and aims to enhance the bridge’s visibility through a solar-powered lighting system.

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The MoU was signed in the presence of CIL Chairman PM Prasad and SMPK Chairman Rathendra Raman, along with other senior officials from both organisations. The project will be implemented jointly and is intended to modernise the lighting infrastructure while respecting the historical significance of the structure.

The illumination plan involves upgrading the bridge’s current lighting with volumetric and skeleton lighting and adding a dynamic light display synchronised with music. The project is also expected to incorporate solar energy to ensure sustainability.

Howrah Bridge, officially opened in 1943, is one of the world’s largest cantilever bridges and a vital transport link across the Hooghly River in Kolkata. The bridge is 2,150 feet long, 70.9 feet wide, and rises to a height of 269 feet. It carries daily traffic of more than 1 lakh vehicles and approximately 1.5 lakh pedestrians, making it one of the busiest bridges in the country.

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CIL and SMPK said the project is being undertaken in the larger interest of the public and is intended to improve both the functionality and the appearance of this key piece of infrastructure. The dynamic lighting will be used to mark special occasions and public events.