India’s First Road Bridge – Chennai (1728)

Did You Know? India’s First Road Bridge Was Built in Chennai… in 1728!

Introduction

When you think of modern road bridges, you probably picture concrete flyovers. But did you know India’s first recorded road bridge dates back to 1728, in the heart of what is now Chennai? Known as the Marmalong Bridge, this centuries-old span laid the groundwork for the bridges and overpasses we rely on today.

Fact & Trivia

• Built by a Philanthropist: Armenian merchant Coja Petrus Uscan funded and built the bridge over the Adyar River near Mambalam (now Saidapet) in Madras.
• Year of Construction: 1728, making it the earliest known modern-style road bridge in India.
• Original Purpose: To facilitate carts and pedestrian traffic across the Adyar River, linking growing parts of Madras.
• Legacy: Though the original bridge is gone, the present Maraimalai Adigal Bridge stands at the same location with a commemorative plaque.
• Significance: The Marmalong Bridge marked the beginning of structured road infrastructure in colonial India.

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Conclusion

The next time you pass Saidapet in Chennai, remember that the site of the Marmalong Bridge represents not just a crossing, but the very start of India’s road bridge history, a remarkable story of philanthropy and infrastructure.

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