Native Jetty Bridge Explained

Native Jetty Bridge
Native Name:نٽي جٽي جو پل
Native Name Lang:Sindhi
Official Name:Native Jetty Bridge
Other Name:Napier Mole Bridge
Named For:Charles Napier
Length:550 feet
Lanes:2
Begin:1861
Complete:September 1864
Cost:Rs 643,440[1]

Native Jetty Bridge, also known as Napier Mole Bridge, is a bridge located in Karachi, Sindh which connects the city with the Port of Karachi.[2] It is one of the oldest bridges in Karachi.[2]

History

The modern port started its operations in 1854 during the British Raj, when a mole was constructed to connect city to the harbour. When the British began constructing the mole, which partitioned the water area, they carefully considered whether closing the waterways on the western side of Chinna Creek would negatively impact the ships in the harbour.[3] The mole was completed in 1864[4] at a cost of Rs 643,440, and an additional railway bridge was also built.[3]

The bridge was built around the same time as other important bridges in the area.[5] Due to increased traffic congestion, a new wider bridge, Jinnah Bridge, was constructed and replaced the old one. Today, the old bridge has been converted to a Food Street and named as Port Grand Food and Entertainment Complex.[6]

Running parallel to the two bridges is the Port Grand Train Track, also known as the Chinna Creek Bridge, which connects Karachi City Station to Kemari via the Karachi Monkey Yard. This 379-meter-long bridge, maintained by Pakistan Railways, is exclusively used for freight trains.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Baillie . Alexander Francis . Kurrachee (Karachi) Past, Present, and Future . 1890 . Thacker, Spink & Co . Calcutta, Bombay, London . 56 . 6 June 2024 . en.
  2. Web site: Bridging history. 7 June 2010. Dawn.
  3. Book: Baillie . Alexander Francis . Kurrachee (Karachi) Past, Present, and Future . 1890 . Thacker, Spink & Co . Calcutta, Bombay, London . 55 . 6 June 2024 . en.
  4. Book: Baillie . Alexander Francis . Kurrachee (Karachi) Past, Present, and Future . 1890 . Thacker, Spink & Co . Calcutta, Bombay, London . 85 . 6 June 2024 . en.
  5. Web site: Karachi Landmarks – The Native Jetty Bridge. November 10, 2010.
  6. News: Ibad inaugurates Port Grand Food Enclave . 16 July 2024 . Business Recorder . 29 May 2011 . en.
  7. News: Railways completes rehabilitation of China Creek Bridge . 15 July 2024 . Pakistan Observer . 4 February 2021 . en.