A COUPLE of newlyweds in their glamorous wedding outfits seemed unperturbed as they posed for the camera on the 120-year-old Victoria Bridge’s railway sleepers.
With feet dangling between the wooden slabs atop the 12m-high structure, the sight alone was enough to send shivers down anybody’s spine, invoking fear and excitement.
Such is the attraction of the historical bridge over Sungai Perak in Karai, which was gazetted as a national heritage site in 2016.
‘It is a popular location for wedding photos and many couples solemnised their union by being photographed here, a slice of the country’s past,’ said a stall owner who sells drinks there.
‘We receive a lot of visitors during the weekend and residents use it to cross Sungai Perak on motorcycles.
‘There was an incident involving two riders who had a collision on the bridge, but fortunately, they were not injured,’he told the New Sunday Times.
KTMB (Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd) trains pass on the double-track rail bridge built parallel to the old structure several times a day, he said.
When the trains passed, it was common for the drivers to ‘greet’ visitors at the old bridge by sounding the horn.
A visitor, who wanted to be known only as Izzati, urged the authorities to spruce up the area.
‘I love to come here. Victoria Bridge lends a romantic feel and the surrounding area offers a great experience to visitors.
‘There are villages in the area that allow visitors to enjoy a serene life in a Malay kampung.’
She said adrenaline junkies would find plenty of activities there.
‘There are river-rafting activities here too.
‘Its proximity to the royal town of Kuala Kangsar (15km away) is a plus point to any visitor,’ said the 24-year-old from Melaka.
‘It is a shame if the bridge is left to crumble.’
She lamented the fact that the picturesque structure was not spared from vandalism, with graffiti seen on parts of the structure.
Architect Mior Zawari Hassan said the structure could be optimised for tourism by improving the infrastructure there.
‘Facilities like public toilets and a security monitoring system would ensure a more comfortable visit for tourists.
‘When there are better infrastructure and more tourist arrivals, the spillover economy will improve the lives of villagers.
‘Tourists will spend more money on food, accommodation and other activities.’
Mior, who was born in Karai, owns the D’Village @Victoria Bridge holiday accommodation located several metres away.
He said guests at his resort were encouraged to explore the area and walk along the 353m-long track.
‘Those who complete the track will receive a certificate as a souvenir. It is our way of showing appreciation to visitors.’
Plans are under way to hand over the management and preservation of the bridge from the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) to the Perak government.
This was to ensure that the heritage value of the bridge was maintained and preserved, RAC told the New Sunday Times.
‘The bridge is one of the tourist attractions in Kuala Kangsar due to its historical and heritage value and beautiful architecture.
‘The purpose of this initiative is to enable the area, including the bridge, to be well taken care of,’it said.
RAC said public concern about the poor condition of the bridge was that it could pose safety risks to people.
‘As a precautionary measure, we have put up warning signs alerting people to the condition of certain parts of the bridge.
‘Victoria Bridge is no longer part of KTMB’s operation following the commencement of the Ipoh-Padang Besar double-track system in 2015,’ it said.