Bridges In Vaigai River

Bridges in Vaigai River S.Rengasamy Faculty Member Madurai Institute of Social Sciences Acknowledgements: Bridges in Vaigai River was written with the field work support by Mr. Karunakaran (Community Development 2001- 2003 Batch of MSW) and modified for this article. All the photographs for this article are taken by Udayakumar (Community Development 2005-2007 Batch) of MSW.

Bridge is a structure, usually of wood, stone, brick, or iron, erected over a river or other water course, or over a chasm, railroad, etc., to make a passageway from one bank to the other. Bridges have become an indispensable adjunct of the modern transport system. Though bridges are physical structures, it makes serious alterations in human consciousness. If there is no structure or facility to overcome a physical barrier, everyone in his or her attempt to overcome it develops a conscious of their own, thereby develop a unique consciousness of their own. When a man crosses a river through boats or by lay foot, he is very much conscious that he is crossing a river. But when he crosses the river using a bridge, he loses the same consciousness. A bridge is a gain as well as a loss A structure built to provide ready passage over natural or artificial obstacles, or under another passageway. Bridges serve highways, railways, canals, aqueducts, utility pipelines, and pedestrian walkways. In many jurisdictions, bridges are defined as those structures spanning an arbitrary minimum distance, generally about 10–20 ft (3–6 m); shorter structures are classified as culverts or tunnels. In addition, natural formations eroded into bridge like form are often called bridges. This article covers only bridges providing conventional transportation passageways. Bridges with all its indispensability have a sedative value also. Helping us to forget the barriers that we are subjected to. But we have to remember that it is that barrier, be a river or a mountain has its own intrinsic value and it is a barrier only in certain aspects. A river may be a barrier, obstructing our mobility, but it at the same time it enables us in other ways. But alas, the barrier overcoming structures slowly make us to forget the intrinsic value of the barrier. This forgetfulness of one’s intrinsic value by using bridges slowly creates other problems. Bridges over the rivers have side effects like medicine…it cures certain illness but at the same time it brings new ailments. This logic is applicable to the bridges constructed across the Vaigai River running within the Madurai city. Bridges over Vaigai helped the city to expand, provided dynamism to city life. Since a bridge across a River is an important landmark in a city like Madurai, apart from transport, bridges are also used creatively in a different ways…. to threaten and intimidate the people, to show one’s strength by blocking the bridge, to advertise, to make propaganda and for ordinary people to generate livelihoods. Furthermore, it is rumored that the construction of bridges across the river has provided an opportunity for graft and corruption. If we take a bridge is a public investment, it definitely creates a multiplier effect. What impact the bridges over

Over bridges are built between the two banks of the river at height above the maximum flood level (mfl). The middle and upper class people who cross the river through their fast moving vehicles do not have even an iota of consciousness that they are crossing a river. On the other hand the causeways (ground bridges) help the poor people to recognize and make use of it either properly or improperly, the vacant spaces that have been provided by these bridges. Moreover these, causeways have generated livelihood opportunities for the lowincome groups by accessing the river easily.

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the river Vaigai have created? Understanding the bridges in Madurai is necessary to understand the ancient yet this emerging modern city. The bridges across river Vaigai can be classified into three categories as follows: 1. Over bridges 2. Cause ways 3. Railway bridges (1985, 1995) Over bridges in Vaigai River: Over the past 120 years five over bridges have been built across the Vaigai River running in the Madurai City. The details of these bridges and its utility are given below. Albert Victor Over Bridge: (1889) One of the important landmarks in Madurai City is Albert Victor Bridge. Although it is more than a century old since it was built, it stands with majesticity. It is named after the engineer Albert Victor who designed it. It is strange that in these days, politicians when keep on changing the old British names of public places have not attempted to alter the name of this bridge. Famous Albert Victor Bridge, the oldest link between North and South Madurai. River Vaigai flows from West to East and divides Madurai into North Madurai and South Madurai. Apart from some obscure causeways, this AV Bridge was the main link between North and South Madurai for a number of years. It is Madurai’s Brooklyn Bridge. Many of the Maduraiites do not know that the warranty period for the Bridge is over. The English Engineer gave it a life of a hundred years and now it is 120 years old, but is still in a good condition. It is an integral part of our lives. I am posting a picture of the bridge here. On the advice of experts the load on AV Bridge has been cut into half by building another bridge parallel to it for traffic flowing from South to North. It is a thrilling experience to walk on the side platform on the bridge when vehicles are swishing past you in great speed. And there is also a problem. Almost all people cross the bridge only in vehicles. Even the low-income group uses a bus to cross the bridge. Only the poorest of the poor walk over the bridge. When you walk on the bridge people always tend to look down on you. People looking from the windows of the buses, throw sympathetic looks at you. At first it was embarrassing for me. But then I thought that this feeling of embarrassment is part of the penance. Varalotti. Indus Ladies,com

This bridge has contributed in a greater measure for the growth of the Madurai City over the years. Today this Bridge is converted into one way traffic zone. In those old days when there was no traffic congestion, the bridge was used as a bus stop. Even 20 years before the slow moving vehicles such as cycles, cycle rickshaws and bullock carts have been prohibited from using this bridge. The ban has made several types of vehicles obsolete and demands were made from time to time to lift such a ban.

There may be bridges exist in the world. Tallest, Longest, Shortest. But for Maduraites, bridge means it is Victor Bridge over River Vaigai.

As this bridge is an important traffic junction, it is customary for political parties to create roadblocks and causing transport bottlenecks on this bridge in order to attract attention of the government and the Madurai public. By blocking this bridge, many organizations have used this as a strategy to get into the negotiating table. This bridge has been considered as an auspicious one so for. Speeding vehicles during its entire checkered history of 120 years have not fallen into the river by damaging the parapet walls of the bridge.

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Many intellectuals have been drawn unaware towards the beauty, grace majesticity and breadth of this bridge. This enchantment towards the bridge has made them to praise the engineering expertise of the colonial era. “There is no peer for the Britishers; they had built better bridges than our present day engineers.” Such is the common refrain among the Madurai City dwellers while commenting on the design and standard of the modern bridges built by Indian engineers. This bridge has been quoted as an example of British technical excellence. When Lord Azhagar descends on River Vaigai, Thousands and thousands of people witness this spectacle from this bridge. Also when Vaigai River is in spate, people rejoice the floodwaters from over this bridge. Writing advertisements on the walls of this bridge has been prohibited. When there was no such ban, the Dravidar Kazhagam, which is not a political party and other progressive political movements have put these walls to good use caricaturing and for writing attractive slogans.

Ordinary people “enjoy” the bridge and powerful people “use” the bridge to their advantage. See the Vinyl boards put up in the bridge

Kamarajar Bridge: (1961) When Madurai’s bye pass road was constructed, this bridge was built and was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961. Though this bridge is named after late Thiru. Kamaraj, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the local people calls it by very many names of their choice. As this bridge is near Theekkadir (Marxist Daily) office, it is called as Theekkadir Bridge. As it is also near Fatima College, it is called as Fatima College Bridge; also called as Guru Theatre Bridge. This bridge as a part of Madurai’s bye-pass transport has been highly helpful for the city’s traffic and its expansion. Different views of Kamarajar Bridge – the second over bridge constructed in Vaigai River. The Project Vaigai Renovation starts from this bridge- that is why thorny bushes are cleared on one side and on the other side it is uncleared

Palam Station Bridge:

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When the Madurai Palam Railway Station level crossing gate is closed enormous congestion of vehicular traffic is witnessed. Therefore in order to reduce the traffic jam, a bridge was built connecting Sellur road and Aarapalayam and the central areas of Madurai City. Though the heavy and light luxury vehicles do not use this bridge to a greater measure common people and two wheelers, make use of this bridge mostly. This bridge directly connects the road being formed alongside the southern bank of Vaigai River. So in the years to come, the utilization of this bridge will be immense.

Each bridge serves different purpose. Paalam Station bridge constructed to ease the traffic congestion to reach the south of Madurai .It is adjacent to railway track PT Rajan over Bridge: (1998) Linking Ramanathapuram road (Teppakulam) and Anna Nagar area, this bridge is constructed and named after (the justice party leader, one time chief minister of Tamil Nadu and the father of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker Sri. Palanivelrajan) Sir P.T. Rajan. Similar to the bridges in the outer city area, this bridge also is highly helpful in minimizing traffic congestion in the city, and enables one to have access to the central and important junctions in the city. Lorries laden with sand and bricks have now easy access to reach Madurai northern area by using this bridge.

PT Rajan Bridge

Kalpaalam Over Bridge :( 2000) In order to reduce the traffic congestion in Albert Victor over bridge, a two-tier bridge was built over the Kalpaalam (stone bridge) with an expenditure of Rs.8 crores. After the construction of this bridge, both the Albert Victor Bridge and this two-tier bridge have been used for one way traffic only.

Kalpaalam Overbridge where the past and the present integrated – the original spirit of Madurai

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Cause ways in Vaigai River: Kalpaalam ¸ø À¡Äõ (1885) Kalpaalam was the first bridge built across the river Vaigai to link the northern and southern regions of Madurai City. As this bridge was constructed using the stones secured while demolishing the fort of Madurai, this bridge had come to be known as Kalpalam. This bridge has greatly helped for the expansion of the city in northern side. Till an over bridge was constructed on this bridge in 2000, the service this bridge has rendered to Madurai City has been immense. As more over bridges came to be built, this bridge has lost its renown among the affluent ones among the bridge users. When diversions in traffic system were made due to the exigencies of the situations, those using speeding vehicles negotiated this bridge with a demur. However Kalpaalam was highly put to use not only for traffic but also for generating livelihood for the poor. (Field notes of S. Rengasamy & KalaiSelvan, 1998). Though constructed as a bridge for traffic convenience, it has been used as a market for selling cheap priced goods for the poor. On Kalpaalam and around Kalpaalam there is about 30 income generating and other opportunities have been existing. Utilizing the Kalpalam, low-income group people are engaged in 19 different kinds of livelihood opportunities. They are 1. Sale of second hand cycle seats 2. Sale of new and old cycle spares and parts 3. Sale of cheap wooden wares 4. Sale of mats. Selling of these commodities are identified with Kalpaalam.The most identified business around Kalpaalam was sale of tables, chairs, tripods, writing desks , and small almirahas made out of deal wood (saathikai palakai). Also the following businesses have found a haven in Kalpalam. 1.Halwa shops which sell traditional bheema pushti halwa À£Á ÒŠÊ «øÅ¡. 2.Fresh fish vending & Fried fish vending Selling of cotton milk (Paruthippal ÀÕò¾¢ô À¡ø) 3.Various types of fruit vending 4.Cool drinks & Ice cream sales 5.Shops specially catering fast foods to cater to the needs of the low-income group people at a cheaper cost Varieties of soups (goats leg (aattukkaal soup ¬ðÎ측ø Ýô), crab (nandukk kaal ¿ñÎ측ø Ýô) 6.Pen vending 7.Foot wear vending 8.Second hand cloth sales Erelong these shops were functioning throughout the day (e.g. second hand cycle seats sales) But some vendors begin their business at 4 p.m in the evening and go up to one 1 p.m late night Certain shops open sales at 6 pm in the evening. The hawkers at the Kalpaalam are comparatively deprived economically than those hawkers selling their wares on the streets of the city. The hawkers at the Kalpaalam Bridge set up shops only on the left side of the bridge unlike the city street hawkers who set up shops on both side of the streets thereby causing traffic inconvenience. There is no hindrance to traffic because of Kalpaalam hawkers. Kalpaalam is a standing example that poor people don’t cause traffic congestion by their economic activity. It is uncharitable to accuse poor people for anything and everything happening in the city roads. Apart from the business opportunities created by the Kalpaalam, it also serve as a route to reach several services that are provided by the poor people for the poor people. By using Kalpaalam people are accessible to the following services.

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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Access to bathing ghats in the river Cows are led to the river for bathing and cleaning. To access the river to wash the clothes To access the play ground for the children To approach places where gold dust is sieved from the sand To use the riverbed for open-air defecation. To wash lorries, minivans & tricycles

Certain rituals are performed in the river. People use the Kalpaalam to reach the river for this purpose. Also the bridge is used to have access to the river for the following performances. 1. To dissolve ‘Mulaipari’ Ó¨Çô À¡Ã¢ in the river 2. To relieve oneself from pollution due to death of a relative or other wise 3. To celebrate Aaadi festival ¬Êô ¦ÀÕìÌ 4. To bath the elephants of Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple While the lower Kalpaalam Bridge is beneficial to the low income group to get essential services at cheaper cost, it is also misused by the affluent ones on various counts. For instance the commission agents of the plantain fruits dump their waste in the river. These wastes are brought through lorries, minivans and tri cycles. It is observed that the design of the bridges especially causeways including its height and breadth lead to many implications. 1. As the height of the Kalpaalamis short and it width is broad it encourages people to use the river, since it facilitates easy access to the river, it is noted that the bridge design is responsible for encroachments in the river. 2. The height at the Kuruvikaran salai causeway is considerable. The height of the bridge had prevented people to have easy access from crossing into the river and set up encroachments. 3. The heights of the three new causeways across the river are low. As one can easily get into the river from the bridge, encroachments on the adjoining areas of these bridges have begun. When the causeways are planned, one has to take into consideration, not only the construction costs but also the design, i.e. its height and breadth. The lesson learnt from these causeways is that it increases the use of the river and also causes more and more encroachments. (see the newspaper report)

Since the year 2000, when the upper Kalpaalam Bridge came into vogue, the lower Kalpaalam lost its glamour, but is still in the traffic hub of the Madurai City in a smaller measure. The affluent ones have begun to park the vehicles in the area.

When the Kalpaalam causeway was mainly used by the low income groups for their livelihood, it was considered safe even to women who will be passing by alone. To day when different categories of people using the bridge the safety feeling are slowly diminishing. It can be stated that the period from 1990 to 2000 can be considered as the golden age for the Vaigai bridges. During that period, seven bridges, four over bridges including the over bridge at the ring road and three ground level bridges have sprung up. Other Cause Ways: Ground Level Bridges. In Madurai city across Vaigai River, there are five (cause ways) ground level bridges. They are 1. Kuruvikaran Salai bridge ÌÕŢ측Ãý º¡¨Ä (1963 named after Thyagi Arunachalam) 2. Kalpalam. 3. Aarapalayam – Aruldaspuram Bridge, 4. Petchiamman padithurai §ÀÂÂõÁý ÀÊòШÈ- Sellur palam bridge and 5. Opulapadithurai µÒÇ¡ ÀÊòÐ¨È - Vaigai Vadakarai Bridge. The last three are the recent ones. Kuruvikkaaran Salai (Tyagi Arunachalam)

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Aruldaspuram Bridge

Opulapadithurai Bridge

Petchiamman Padithurai-Sellur

Over bridges help to relive the traffic congestion arising due to vehicular expansion. They help the higher and middle-income people to have people speedy travel of their desire.

Acknowledgements: Bridges in Vaigai River was written by me with the field work support of Mr. Karunakaran (Community Development 2003 Batch of MSW) and slightly modified for this article. All the photographs for this article are taken by Udayakumar (Community Development 2005-2007 Batch) of MSW.

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