Assam-Meghalaya bridge to ease travellers; Here's all you need to know

FACTS:

Good news for the residents of Assam and Meghalaya as the distance between the two neighbouring states is going to be reduced through a bridge that will be constructed over river Brahmaputra.

Bidder Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has emerged as the lowest bidder for building one of India's longest river bridges connecting Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari in Meghalaya. The bridge measuring 19.3 kilometres in length will be built over the Brahmaputra and will reduce the road travel distance by 203 kilometres. The project is being financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

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Presently, the travellers have to cross the Naranarayan bridge, which is an inconvenience due to the 60-km upstream, or row across the river in small boats, which can take about two-and-a-half hours. This journey is considered risky during the rainy season when the river flows above the danger mark.

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) had proposed the said bridge five years ago. The total capital cost of the project is expected to stand at Rs 4,997.04 crore, which includes a land-acquisition and resettlement cost of Rs 55.68 crore.

Assam's Bhupen Hazarika Bridge, across the River Lohit, one of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra, is currently India’s longest bridge at 9.15 km.