Image Courtesy: The Indian Express

• It will be the country’s longest bridge which will connect Assam & Arunachal & cover travel time within 7 hours
• Big boon for Indian army helping swift mobilisation and movement of troops and heavy equipment to the frontier areas

It runs 9.15 km from end to end, including 4.25 km between the river’s north and south banks, longer than Bandra-Worli Sea Link by 5.6 km. which includes construction of 28.5 km approach roads. Sadiya is one of the most disadvantaged places in Assam, a subdivision of Tinsukia bounded by rivers on three sides: Lohit, Brahmaputra and Dibang.

While inaugurating the bridge, the longest in India, the PM Narendra Mpdo said that the bridge will be named after Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.  Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, who died in November 2011, was a noted singer, musician and filmmaker, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and National Award.

Massive earthquake, which occurred on 15^th August, 1950 took away half of Sadiya town within days, when the Brahmaputra changed its course.  Navayuga Engineering Co Ltd, a Bengaluru-based company that specialises in various kinds of structures including bridges and jetties has built this state-of-the art bridge using all high-end modern equipment like seismic buffers, imported hydraulic rigs etc.

Image Courtesy: The Indian Express

The total cost of the project went from Rs 6,600 to Rs 10,000 crores, after escalation due to delays.  Though, the bridge will be a boon to Indian Army, ironically, it will also create unemployment for Boatmen who use to ferry the army & locals on daily basis.  Government, though will be taking major steps to curb this unemployment.

Consulting Editor: UdaipurTimes (Mumbai)