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.[3] It is one of the oldest bridges in Karachi.[3]

Native Jetty Bridge

نٽي جٽي جو پل
Native Jetty Bridge as seen from Port Grand
Coordinates24°50′35″N 66°59′26″E / 24.842919°N 66.990557°E / 24.842919; 66.990557
Official nameNative Jetty Bridge
Other name(s)Napier Mole Bridge
Named forCharles Napier
Characteristics
Total length550 feet[1]
No. of lanes2
History
Construction start1861[1]
Construction endSeptember 1864 [1]
Construction costRs 643,440[2]
Location
Map

History

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The modern port started its operations in 1854 during the British Raj, when a mole was constructed to connect the 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.[4] The mole was completed in 1864[1] at a cost of Rs 643,440, and an additional railway bridge was also built.[4]

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 into a food street and named 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

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References

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