Howrah Bridge in Kolkata has received a Rs 22.35-crore lighting upgrade, with a new dynamic illumination system designed to highlight the historic structure, strengthen its tourism appeal and create synchronised visual shows for citizens and visitors.
The project has been undertaken by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) through a public-private partnership. Technical consultancy for the work was provided by Jadavpur University, according to an official source cited by The Statesman.
The new system uses 3,825 luminaires with a total installed capacity of 385 kilowatts. The lighting has been designed to bring out the bridge’s structural profile, skeletal surfaces, crowns and main pylons after dark, adding a new visual dimension to Kolkata’s night skyline.
The bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu, is one of Kolkata’s most recognisable pieces of infrastructure and a major connection between the city and Howrah. The illumination project is intended to promote tourism by presenting the engineering landmark as a more prominent part of the city’s evening landscape.
According to the authorities, the lighting will be showcased on important national occasions and festivals, including Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Durga Puja, Diwali and Holi. The system will support dynamic light shows accompanied by synchronised sound, although the official material supplied does not specify the full calendar or duration of individual shows.
The authorities also said that the dynamic shows would be live broadcast to the general public through a dedicated mobile application. This is intended to allow citizens and tourists to experience the presentations even when they are not physically present near the bridge.
Rathendra Raman, chairman of SMP, described the project as an effort to celebrate the bridge’s heritage value. “The illumination of Rabindra Setu is not just lighting of a bridge, it is lighting up the legacy of Kolkata,” he said. Raman added that Howrah Bridge was “an emotion for the people of this city and the nation” and that the new system would enhance its heritage grandeur while offering a visual attraction for citizens and tourists.
The project places a major piece of Kolkata’s transport infrastructure within the city’s wider tourism and heritage landscape. Unlike a new construction project, the work changes how an existing bridge is experienced after operational hours, while retaining its role as a vital crossing. The supplied announcement does not provide details on the lighting system’s operating schedule, maintenance arrangements, energy-use monitoring or the terms of the public-private partnership.
SMP said the new illumination would be used for national occasions and festivals, with the dedicated mobile application providing public access to synchronised broadcasts. Further details on the application, show timings and maintenance framework are expected from the authorities.
