The Maraimalai Adigal Bridge (previously the Marmalong Bridge) is a road bridge on Anna Salai connecting the northern and southern banks of the Adyar River. [1]
History
The oldest bridge across the Adyar River - the Marmalong Bridge - was originally constructed by the Armenian merchant Coja Petrus Uscan in 1728 at the cost of Rs. one lakh. He left a trilingual inscription in Armenian, Latin, and Persian. [2] [3] The bridge was named after the nearby village of Mambalam which was Anglicized to Marmalan or Marmalong. [1] The dilapidated old bridge was replaced by a new one in 1966. [4] The new bridge is named after Maraimalai Adigal, a Tamil writer and proponent of the Pure Tamil movement.
Uscan's construction of the bridge is commemorated by a plaque at the northern end of the bridge adjoining the Saidapet bus stand. [1]
Notes
- ^ a b c Diwan Bahadur S. E. Runganadhan, ed. (1939). Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee Commemoration Volume. Indian Branch, Oxford Press. p. 124.
- ^ Mathai, Kamini (6 April 2019). "300-year-old Armenian plaque restored". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Commemorative Stele of Chennai's Armenian Bridge Restored". india.mfa.am. Embassy of Armenia to India. 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022.
- ^ Frederick, Prince (1 July 2009). "Memories of Madras: From Saidapet to Madras". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 August 2009.
Other sources
- Muthiah, S. (2004). Madras Rediscovered. East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd. ISBN 81-88661-24-4.