As a memorial to General Wellesley's South India campaign in 1803, the British in Maharashtra decided to construct a bridge named after Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. The bridge was constructed over the confluence of the Mula-Mutha. The wood from the Peshwas' wada in Shukrawar Peth was employed to build this bridge. An engineer from Mumbai, Robert Foster undertook the construction of the bridg which cost Rs. 91,892.Its construction took three years and was finally completed in 1830. The then Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm inaugurated the bridge. In 1870 when the old bridge was considered perilous for passage and found too narrow to accommodate the circulation of traffic, the old bridge was removed and in its place a stone bridge was built which stands even today. The contract for the construction of the new bridge was given to Messrs. White and Co. The bridge which was 28 feet wide had eight arches and a sum of Rs. 1,10,982 was spent for its renovation.In 1875 Sir Philip Woodhouse inaugurated the new, improved bridge. As the Sangam was close by one could go to and fro by boat at a cost of one paisa. The British would conduct boat races in this region. Stately carriages would be seen crossing the Wellesley bridge. A stone construction served as the Sangam ghat. This spot surrounded by thick foliage also housed the hallowed Sangameshwar temple. There was another high-spired temple near that of Sangameshwar which had two dwarpal or guards painted on either side to welcome devotees. However this temple was washed away in the Panshet dam disaster of 1961.The boat service between Sangam ghat and Wadi was discontinued some years ago after an accident. The rocks around the ghat were blasted with dynamite in 1961 and three additional arches were added to the bridge.
