Iconic Howrah bridge set for a new night look with dynamic illumination, 7-min light-and-sound show
Times of India | 10 March 2025
Kolkata: The city's grand old lady — the Howrah bridge — is all set to adorn herself more beautifully for the night. Kolkata Port, the custodian of the iconic 82-year-old engineering marvel, is inviting tenders, having finalised the detailed project report (DPR) which encompasses dynamic illumination, an enhanced son et lumière streamed universally through an application, and more.
Leading musicians will orchestrate the soundtrack for the bridge across the Hooghly, also known as the Rabindra Setu. Accompanying the score will be a lighting arrangement similar to that at the Eiffel Tower and Montreal's Jacques Cartier Bridge. The principal feature will be to delineate every aspect of the world's sixth-longest cantilever bridge using superior architectural lighting, emphasising every aspect of the 705m-long, 21.6m-wide structure that was completed in 1943 and has been the city's biggest identifying element.
Kolkata Port anticipates the transformation will be visible in less than a year. Sources said it could require six to eight months from the date of the contract being awarded to complete the lighting enhancement of Howrah bridge.
"One needn't be in proximity to Howrah bridge to witness the seven-minute ‘light-and-sound' spectacle. It will be accessible through an application. All you need to do is download the application and watch the intricate structure come alive, accompanied by vibrant melody," Samrat Rahi, deputy chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, told TOI.
Currently, Howrah bridge is visible at night through volumetric lighting, which denotes the illusion created by a technique that amplifies the sense of volume. "The volumetric lighting, implemented in Jan 2020, will now be augmented by the installation of supplementary LED systems. The new lighting will be integrated with a son et lumière system," the official added.
"The volumetric lighting directs attention towards the bridge, creating a three-dimensional perception. However, the lighting will now be enhanced with a state-of-the-art system that will match the city's own dynamic rhythm. As dusk approaches, you shall see the city's vitality expressed through an intricate system of LED lights pulsing with music and beats across the magnificent structure," an engineer explained, adding: "This will be a novel permanent lighting arrangement that will accentuate Howrah bridge's engineering and also amalgamate lights and data to reflect the vivacity of the twin cities it connects."
The new project represents the second phase of an existing scheme by the port authority to embellish the bridge, which is considered a national heritage structure. Officials indicated that enhanced illumination of the bridge's structural brilliance will unlock much nightlife tourism potential. "It will be a visual-cum-audio treat for tourists strolling on either bank of the river," an official said.