PM unveils nation’s longest bridge

Bijay Sankar Bora
Tribune News Service
Guwahati, May 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled the nation’s longest Dhola-Sadiya bridge, naming it after legendary singer and musician late Dr Bhupen Hazarika, to kick-start celebrations marking BJP-led NDA government’s three years in office.

“The Dhola-Sadiya bridge will be known after renowned musician and son of the soil of Sadiya late Dr Bhupen Hazarika, who strived to promote the magnificence and invaluable contribution of the Brahmaputra to the life and economy of Assam and North-East before the global audience through his timeless music. A decision has been taken by the Government of India in this regard as a tribute to the illustrious son of the country whose music and songs continue to inspire the nation and the younger generation.”

The Prime Minister said the 9.15-km bridge would not only reduce the distance and time of travel between Sadiya (on north bank of Brahmaputra in Assam) and remote eastern parts of Arunachal Pradesh but also spur economic growth and promote tourism in the region.

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The video of the bridge released by the Government of India: Courtesy: DD News

#ModiFest: PM @narendramodi to inaugurate the longest bridge in the country; also lay foundation stone of #IARI and #AIIMS in #Assam today pic.twitter.com/Yun2J9ww3k

— Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) May 26, 2017

“The government is aware of North-East’s potential of becoming an economic hub in the South-East Asia, provided state-of-the-art infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railways and waterways are set up expeditiously. The new bridge is a step towards that. We are focused on developing Brahmaputra waterway to reduce the distance and cost of transportation of goods and people. Fast expansion of the railway network has been facilitated in the region,” the PM said.

Earlier, Modi took a ride on the bridge and got down from his vehicle for a stroll.

People of Sadiya and eastern Arunachal Pradesh had for long been demanding a bridge. The remote area had been cut off from the rest of the country following the 1950 earthquake that rocked the Assam valley and parts of Arunchal Pradesh.

The S-shaped bridge, built at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore over six years, is strategically important as it is located 100 km from the the China border in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Besides, it brings eastern areas of Arunachal Pradesh such as Anini, Roing, Myodia, Tezu, etc. closer to mainland India through surface route.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said besides building more bridges over the Brahmaputra, including one spanning 14 km to connect Dhubri (Assam) and Phulbari (Meghalaya), the age-old waterway of the Brahmaputra would be reinvented through dredging and setting up of navigation facility to push growth and tourism in the state.

In the 19th century, Brahmaputra was a crucial link in the development of tea, coal and oil industry in the absence of roads or rail connectivity in this part of Assam.

Gadkari said Rs 1.5 lakh crore would be spent on developing waterways and road bridge infrastructure in Assam and the North-East. Also, 15 floating terminals would be set up on the Brahmaputra. In 2016, the UPA government constructed 16,800 km road at the rate of 33 km road per day and target had been set to construct 40 km road per day this year, he said.