About Vidyasagar Setu
Vidyasagar Setu, also known as the Second Hooghly Bridge, is a cable-stayed toll bridge spanning the Hooghly River to connect Howrah and Kolkata in West Bengal. Opened in 1992 and named after educationist and reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, it was India's longest cable-stayed bridge at completion. Notable for its 127.62-metre pylons, fan-arranged cables and illuminated night view, it serves as a major transport link and scenic landmark.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a large cable-stayed road bridge over the Hooghly River with tall pylons and steel cables, best viewed from the riverbanks, Prinsep Ghat and Millennium Park areas rather than on foot on the bridge itself. The surroundings include the river, ghats, and city skyline. At sunset and after dark the bridge is illuminated. Access is vehicle-only for crossing; sightseeing and photography are done from designated viewpoints along the riverfront.
Key highlights
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Cable-stayed bridge with 127.62 m tall pylons and fan arrangement of cables
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Spans 823 metres across the Hooghly River connecting Kolkata and Howrah
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Was the longest cable-stayed bridge in India and one of the longest in Asia at inauguration in 1992
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Illuminated night view over the Hooghly River popular for photography
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Named after Bengali polymath and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
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Important toll link carrying traffic between Kolkata and Kona Expressway / NH 16
History of Vidyasagar Setu
Construction was undertaken by the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) with Braithwaite Burn and Jessop Construction Company. Work began on 3 July 1979 and the bridge was inaugurated on 10 October 1992. Designed with consultation from Schlaich Bergermann & Partner, it was built as the second bridge over the Hooghly River to decongest the Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu). It was named after Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891), noted educationist and social reformer of Bengal.
Culture & Context
Named in honour of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the bridge is regarded as a modern engineering landmark and symbol of Kolkata-Howrah connectivity. It is a prominent city landmark frequently featured in tourism promotion and is best appreciated as a scenic riverfront viewpoint alongside the older Howrah Bridge.