Bridging the Mighty Brahmaputra

The mighty Brahmaputra is the lifeline of the people of Assam and Northeast. In recent years, the constructions of bridges have picked up thus reducing travel time and cost. Moreover it has given a big boost to tourism in the North East. Here’s a glimpse…

Brahmaputra ropeway – India’s longest!

India’s longest river ropeway across river Brahmaputra was inaugurated on 24^th August 2020 by the Assam health and education minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Guwahati development department (GDD) minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya. This ropeway connects the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra river. The project was started way back in 2006 but was halted due to several reasons, one being the objection raised by the Archaeological Survey of India citing the construction as a threat to the Urvashi island on the Brahmaputra. Later the tower alignment was shifted and ASI gave the required permission.

What does the Ropeway bring?

1.8 kms will be covered by the ropeway which will bring down the travelling time by eight minutes. Till now people from North Guwahati used to commute to the main city either by boats, ferries or by road which used to take 45 minutes to over one hour. Also these services were often disrupted for days during the peak monsoon season when the water level crosses the danger mark.

Other than reducing the travel time substantially, the ropeway will provide a breathtaking view of the Brahmaputra and promote tourism in the State.

This cable car cabin can carry 30 passengers and one operator and can handle movement of 250 persons per hour.

Bogibeel Bridge – India’s longest and Asia’s second longest road and rail bridge

Bogibeel Bridge is India’s longest rail-road bridge, measuring 4.94 kilometres and connecting the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra, falling in the eastern part of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It is Asia’s second largest rail-cum-road bridge. The bridge has a double rail line on the lower deck and a 3 lane road on the upper deck. The structure of the Bogibeel bridge has been constructed using special copper-bearing steel plates in order to reduce corrosion.

It was sanctioned by the Government of India in 1997-98 and the construction was started in 2002 however it saw the light of the day only in 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bogibeel Bridge on 25th December 2018 on the occasion of Good Governance Day.

Solving connectivity issues

The bridge is located just over 20 km away from the Assam- Arunachal Pradesh border and acts as an alternative to the Kolia Bhomora Setu, Tezpur in providing connectivity to nearly five million people residing in Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge helps reducing travel time and cost.

The bridge enables the military to dispatch forces to neighbouring Arunachal, which borders China and helps in logistical support for the Indian Army.

Dhola-Sadiya – India’s Longest Bridge Over Water

Dhola-Sadiya bridge(Bhupen Hazarika Setu) is the longest bridge in India over water. The three lane, 9.15 km bridge has been built over river Lohit, a tributary of River Brahmaputra, and links Dhola(Tinsukia) in Assam to Sadiya in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The bridge was inaugurated on 26 May 2017 by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitin Gadkari, minister of road and transport.

Bridging the Boundaries

Before the construction of this bridge, the only means to cross the Brahmaputra at this location was by ferry in the daytime, and this was not possible during floods. The Dhola- Sadiya bridge ensures 24X7 connectivity between upper Assam(Tinsukia) and the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge is the first permanent road connection between the northern and eastern Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge has reduced the distance from Rupai on NH-37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh by 165 KM, cutting down on travel time from six hours to one hour.

What Next?

For the efforts that are being taken on development of rails and roadways, the North East will no longer stay secluded from the rest of the country!

Assam to get funding from New Development Bank for six lane bridge over Brahmaputra connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 February, 2019. The bridge, once it is built, will reduce travel time from south bank to north bank Brahmaputra from 90 minutes to 15 minutes. This is expected to be completed by 2023.