Shahi Bridge of Jaunpur: Lessons for Modern Infrastructure

In India, headlines about bridges collapsing just a few years after construction have become disturbingly common. As per media reports, there have been over 170 bridge collapses between 2021 and 2025, claiming 202 lives and injuring 441 people.

Yet on the outskirts of Jaunpur, an old Mughal-Era bridge continues to function almost as if nothing has changed.

The Shahi Bridge was built during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, when Munim Khan was the governor of Jaunpur. Its construction began around 1564 and was completed around 1568–69, taking approximately four years. Historical accounts credit the design to Afzal Ali, an architect from Afghanistan. The bridge is also known by several names, including Shahi Pul, Akbari Bridge and Munim Khan’s Bridge.

The strength of the Shahi Bridge begins below the road, in the arches, pillars and materials that rise from the bed of the Gomti. At first glance, its many arches may appear to be decorative, but they perform the most important structural function.

The design begins with the pillars. Unlike ordinary flat supports, the pillars of the Shahi Bridge include pointed, boat-like projections known as cutwaters. These cutwaters divide and redirect the river’s current before it strikes the main body of the pillar. By reducing the water’s direct force and limiting turbulence, they help protect the foundations from erosion.

The bridge has ten main arched openings, along with an additional five-arch section built across the diverted channel of the river. These openings allow water to pass through the bridge rather than forcing the river to push against a solid barrier. The carriageway is around 26 feet wide, with raised edges on both sides.

The arches are particularly well suited to stone construction. Stone is much stronger when it is compressed than when it is pulled apart. An arch uses this natural strength by transferring the weight of the roadway sideways and downwards into the pillars. The wedge-shaped stones, known as voussoirs, lock together to form a stable curve. As weight is placed on the arch, these stones press tightly against one another, helping the structure remain firm.

The large octagonal or hexagonal stone piers provide another layer of stability. Their size allows them to distribute the weight of the arches effectively, while their geometry helps break the force of the flowing water. Instead of allowing the current to strike a broad, flat surface with full force, the shaped piers divide the flow and reduce pressure around the foundations.

The materials used in the bridge complement this design. The structure was built with massive stone masonry joined with lime mortar rather than modern cement. Hydraulic lime hardens slowly and can continue gaining strength over time. Its ability to perform in damp conditions made it suitable for a bridge exposed to river water, seasonal flooding, and changing weather.

Above the arches and pillars, the bridge becomes more than an engineering structure. Chhatris and pavilions project from its sides, creating resting points and viewing spaces without interrupting the movement of people and vehicles along the roadway.

Conclusion

In 1934, the Shahi Bridge was heavily damaged by the Nepal–Bihar Earthquake. Seven of its arches had to be reconstructed, yet the bridge continued to stand and serve Jaunpur. Its survival after such a powerful natural disaster shows the resilience of its original design and construction.

The Shahi Bridge does not offer a blueprint that can be replicated in modern infrastructure. Its real lesson lies in the principles behind its design. Contemporary bridge-making can learn from its emphasis on designing with the river rather than against it. The cutwaters, arches, and substantial piers respond to the behaviour of water. Also, the choice of materials reflects the environmental conditions in which the structure was expected to function.

The bridge also offers a lesson in designing for longevity. Its survival does not mean that it remained untouched; it was damaged, repaired, and continued to serve its purpose. For contemporary India, this offers a more futuristic vision of infrastructure: bridges that are not merely built faster, but designed to last longer.

(Swaleh Adeel is an intern under TRIP)

About the author

Swaleh Adeel

Swaleh Adeel is a student of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, with a minor in History. He is currently a TRIP intern.

Sneha Yadav

Sneha Yadav is an electronics engineer with a postgraduate degree in political science. Her interests span contemporary social, economic, administrative, and political issues in India. She has worked with CSDS-Lokniti and has been previously associated with The Pioneer and ThePrint.

Conclusion

About the author

Swaleh Adeel

Sneha Yadav

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