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The '''Hardinge Bridge''', before inauguration known as the '''Sara Ghat Bridge''' is a steel railway bridge at Sara over the river Ganges(+Padma) located in East Bengal (now western Bangladesh). It is named after Lord Hardinge, who was the Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916. The bridge is 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) long and was constructed to carry the broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) ‘[[East Bengal Railway]]’(EBR).

<blockquote> + The construction river between the west side of a railway bridge over Bangladesh and its confluence with the Ganges(+Padma) Jamuna was proposed in 1889 by previously called the Eastern Bengal Railway for easier communication between Calcutta and Eastern Bengal and Assam. In 1902Ganges, [[Francis Joseph Edward Spring]] prepared a report on the bridge. A technical committee reported that a bridge could be constructed at [[Sara]] crossing the lower Ganges between the Paksey and Bheramara Upazila stations on the BG railway from [[Khulna]] is now referred to [[Parbatipur Upazila]]. <ref>Minutes of as the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers[http://www.icevirtuallibraryPadma.com/doi/abs/10.1680/imotp.1918.15830 Volume 205, Issue 1918; pages 18-67. "The Hardinge Bridge over the Lower Ganges at Sara". Published Online: June 05, 2015] Retrieved on 8 Dec 2015 </refblockquote>

==Bridge Location and Design==The Consulting Engineer construction of a railway bridge over the Ganges(+Padma) was proposed in London was Sir 1889 by the ‘[[Alexander Meadows RendelEastern Bengal Railway]] ’ for easier communication between Calcutta and Eastern Bengal and Assam. In 1902, [[Frederick Ewart RobertsonFrancis Joseph Edward Spring]] was an active partner in prepared a report on the bridge. A technical committee reported that firm and was resposible for the designs for the steelwork of perhaps the most difficult a bridge yet undertaken, could be constructed at [[Sara over ]] crossing the Lower lower Gangesbetween the Paksey and Bheramara Upazila stations on the broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) railway from [[Khulna]] to Parbatipur Upazila. <ref>[http://www.gracesguideicevirtuallibrary.cocom/doi/abs/10.uk1680/Frederick_Ewart_Robertson Grace's Guide imotp.1918.15830 Volume 205, Issue 1918; pages 18-67. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers "Frederick Ewart RobertsonThe Hardinge Bridge over the Lower Ganges at Sara". Published Online: June 05, 2015]; Retrieved on 8 Jun 2016Dec 2015 </ref>.

The Consulting Engineer in London was Sir [[Alexander Meadows Rendel]] and [[Frederick Ewart Robertson]] was an active partner in that firm and was responsible for the designs for the steelwork of, perhaps, the most difficult bridge yet undertaken at Sara over the Lower Ganges. <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Frederick_Ewart_Robertson Grace's Guide "Frederick Ewart Robertson"]; Retrieved 8 Jun 2016</ref>. ==Bridge Construction==The construction of the Sara ‘Sara Ghat Bridge Bridge’ started in 1910 and opened to traffic in 1915, and became the Hardinge Bridge‘Hardinge Bridge’. [[Robert Richard Gales]] from the [[Public Works Department]] was Engineer-in-Chief and the construction was a major engineering challenge as fully described in the 'The Engineer' of October 1914 <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/d/d9/Er19141002.pdf The Engineer October 1914, pages 316-318- "Bridge over the Lower Ganges" reproduced by Grace's Guide]; Retrieved 16 Jul 2016</ref>.  ==Hardinge Bridge Committee==The 1935-36 ‘Report on Indian Railways’ <ref>[https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/18155 Report by the Railway Board on Indian Railways for 1935-36. Vol. I; Railway Department, Government of India” page 42 pdf 52 ]; Retrieved 6 Nov 2020</ref> recorded that:-<br>”A Committee of engineers was formed to investigate the situation at the Hardinge Bridge .. and reported in November 1935. They recommended certain works to be undertaken immediately and others in the future ... The main works during 1935-36 was the restoration of the Guide Bank across the original breech ... repairs were carried out on the Right Guide Bank which suffered from some slips ... some stone was added to the apron” The 1936-37 ‘Report on Indian Railways’ <ref>[http://hdl.handle.net/10973/18160 “Report by the Railway Board on Indian Railways for 1936-37. Vol. I; Railway Department, Government of India” page 45 pdf 62 ]; Retrieved 6 Nov 2020</ref> recorded that:- <br>”During the year the flood in the River Ganges reached the exceptional high flood level of 247.4 ft, which is the highest recorded since the Hardinge Bridge opened in 1915.The piers and protection works withstood the attacks of the river remarkably well, except that on 10th September a length of about 300 ft of the front slope of the Right Guide Bank slipped into the river. Emergency repairs were completed within a week and proved effective during the remainder of the flood season.”<br>The Committee’s recommendations were carried out “the Sara Protection Bank and was abandoned and work commenced ... on extending up-stream the Raita and Damukdia Protection Banks on realigned curves on reinforcing the Right Hand Guide Bank..Roughly about 40 to 65 per cent of the work was completed during the year.”