PWD's Shift: Fitzgerald Bridge's Tale of Change

This study scrutinises the history of the Fitzgerald Bridge in Pune, capturing the intersection of colonial administration and infrastructure development in late 19th-century British India. It assesses the influence of British colonialism on infrastructure and its broader implications for the socio-political fabric of the time. The analysis draws from historical records from the Pune Division Public Works Office, including correspondence letters, official orders, and administrative documents estimates and tenders offering insight into the bureaucratic challenges encountered during the bridge's planning. The paper also discusses the transformative shift from military to civilian oversight in the Public Works Department around 1855, reflecting on the administrative changes and challenges that preceded the construction of the Fitzgerald Bridge. It considers how the project spanned different governance models, providing a case study of infrastructural development amid shifting colonial strategies. This period of preconstruction, spanning a decade from 1855 to 1865, serves as a focal point for understanding the infrastructural advancements in a changing colonial regime. Furthermore, the study sheds light on the complexities of managing large-scale colonial infrastructure projects. By dissecting the challenges documented during the bridge's early development, the study contributes to the discourse on colonial infrastructure's role in shaping historical narratives, offering a detailed view of the era's complex governance and engineering practices. It aims to enhance understanding of how such endeavours contributed to the socio-economic and political discourse of the period.