Simple facts, unknown to most. We bring them to you at this blog!
Showing posts with label Sukkur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sukkur. Show all posts

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Lansdowne Bridge

Did you know?

The Lansdowne Bridge was a railway bridge, a marvel of nineteenth century engineering, the 'longest "rigid" girder bridge in the world' at the time of its built in 1887. Built on the cantilever principle, the central span of 200 feet had to be floated into position. From the tower-centres the bridge measures 790 feet across. It was built to use the steam rail service in order to reduce ferry travel time across the Indus River between cities of Rohri and Sukkur. It is basically situated between Rohri and a small island Bukkur and then connects to Sukkur with small bridge named as Sukkur Bridge. It was designed by Sir Alexander Meadows Rendel, the girder work weighing a massive 3,300 tons was erected by F.E. Robertson, and Hecquet.

The construction of Lansdowne bridge claimed 6 lives. Four men fell from the dizzy heights and 2 were knocked out by falling tools on them. The cost of bridge was Rs 2,696,000 including Rs 276,000 that were spent on foundations only.

The Indus Valley State Railway had reached Sukkur in 1879 and the steam ferry which transported eight wagons at a time across the Indus was found to be cumbersome and time consuming. The ferry link between Rohri and Sukkur became redundant when Lord Reay Governor of Bombay. Detutizing for Lord Lansdowne, the viceroy, inaugurated the Bridge on March 25, 1889. The bridge was replaced with road traffic after railway was shifted to newly constructed bridge "Ayub Arch" in 1962.

Great Ayub Arch

Did you know?

The Ayub Arch is the adjacent railway bridge arch, approximately 100 feet apart to the Lansdowse Bridge of Rohri, Sindh, Pakistan. Ayub Arch became the world's third longest railway arch span and the first bridge in the world to have "the Railway desk slung on coiled wire rope suspenders" when completed in 1962. It was built as a replacement for the railway traffic to be shifted from Lansdowne Bridge connecting the historical cities of Rohri and Sukkur since 1889.



Dr. D.D. Steinman of New York, proponent of 'vocational aesthetics' designed this graceful bridge which cost about 20 million rupees. The foundation stone was laid on December 9, 1960; completely made of Steel and about a hundred feet apart, the two bridges seem like one from a distance after its completion in 1962. A tribute to Pakistani, American and British engineers, it was opened by President Muhammad Ayub Khan on May 6, 1962.

Thursday, 26 November 2009

Sukkur Barrage

Did you know?

The Sukkur Barrage (formely Lloyd Barrage) at Indus River was built in 1923 (completed February 1932) to help alleviate famines caused by lack of rain.

5000 feet long barrage is made of yellow stone and steel enables water to flow through what was originally a 6166 mile long network of 7 canals, feeding the largest irrigation system in the world, with more than 5 million acres (20,000 km²) of irrigated land. Some of these canals are even larger than Suez Canal. The retaining wall has 66 spans, each 60 feet wide; each span has a gate which weighs 50 tons.

In November 2004, the government of Pakistan initiated a rehabilitation project to revitalize its water storage capacity and distribution efficiency. The project was completed in July 2005, (with less than the allocated amount of Rs. 887 million). Experts believe that the rehabilitation of the barrage has enhanced its efficiency for another 60 to 7 years.