Decorative Illumination of Howrah bridge launched

Kolkata, Nov 23 (UNI) In a marvellous way to beautify the City of Joy further, the famous Howrah bridge was decoratively illuminated from today, thanks to the initiative taken by the Kolkata Port Trust.

In a star-studded evening West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi inaugurated the decorative illumination of the world's fourth largest cantiliver bridge, renamed as "Rabindra Setu" in 1965, amid an august gathering, including British Trade and Industry minister Ian McCartney, British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Simon Wilson, state Urban Developmenrt minister Ashok Bhattacharya, state PWD minister Kshiti Goswami and Kolkata Port Trust Chairman A.K.

Chanda.

Describing the illumination of the city's most famous landmark as a "spectacular achievement", the Governor said it had added a splash of colour to the city.

An engineering marvel that completed sixty-three years of service to the city's teeming millions in particular and the nation in general since it was commissioned in 1943, Howrah Bridge has become the "Identity of Kolkata" besides arguably being the businest bridge in the world.

Speaking about the Illumination programme of the bridge, which was conceptualised about two years ago, KOPT Chairman Dr Chanda informed that the scheme was finalised after thorough simulation study before entrusting the job to Philips Elecltronics India Limited for timely execution.

He said the decorative lighting scheme had three different lighting options including energy saving option and festive option.

Execution of the scheme started in March this year and completed on November ten, Dr Chandra said adding that a specialised team from KOPT had taken up the lighting scheme as a challenge under a time bound programme.

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