Kolkata, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The iconic Rabindra Setu, popularly known as the Howrah Bridge, has received state-of-the-art dynamic architectural lighting, giving one of Kolkata’s most recognisable landmarks a new visual identity.
The project has been undertaken by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, the custodian of the bridge, following clearance from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, officials said.
The new lighting system features 3,825 luminaires with a total installed capacity of 385 KW, illuminating the bridge’s structural profile, skeletal surfaces, crowns and main pylons through dynamic lighting effects synchronised with sound.
An SMP Kolkata official said the lighting would be showcased on important national occasions and festivals, including Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Durga Puja, Diwali and Holi.
The Rs 22.35-crore project has been executed by M/s M M Brothers, with lighting support from M/s Havells Lighting, while Jadavpur University served as the technical consultant.
The official said dynamic light shows with synchronised sound would also be live-broadcast to the public through a dedicated mobile application, allowing citizens and tourists to experience the engineering landmark through the new spectacle.
SMP Kolkata Chairman Rathendra Raman congratulated the teams involved in the project and said the illumination represented more than simply lighting a bridge.
“The illumination of Rabindra Setu is not just lighting of a bridge; it is lighting up the legacy of Kolkata,” Raman said, describing the Howrah Bridge as “an emotion” for the people of Kolkata and the nation.
He said the dynamic architectural lighting would enhance the bridge’s heritage grandeur, provide a world-class visual spectacle for citizens and tourists, and reaffirm SMP Kolkata’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the city’s iconic heritage.
Port officials said the illumination is expected to strengthen Kolkata’s heritage tourism appeal and further establish the historic bridge as a prominent symbol of the City of Joy.
The 705-metre-long steel suspension bridge, connecting Kolkata and Howrah, was commissioned on February 3, 1943. It was renamed Rabindra Setu in 1965 after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
The bridge remains one of the busiest in the country, with nearly 100,000 vehicles and more than 150,000 pedestrians crossing it every day, officials said.
Although the Kolkata port had previously installed decorative lighting on the bridge, officials said this is the first time that dynamic architectural lighting has been implemented.
FOLLOW NOW
