India’s longest river bridge opens, improves connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh

The bridge, which reduces the distance from Rupai on NH-37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh by 165km, cuts travel time from 6 hours to just 1 hour and saves fuel worth Rs 10 lakh a day.

By Autocar Pro News Desk

26 May 2017

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The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge has been constructed on a BOT annuity basis at a total cost of Rs 2,056 crore.

The bridge reduces the distance from Rupai on NH-37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh by 165km.

Travel time between Dhola and Sadiya down to only one hour. Fuel savings estimated at Rs 10 lakh per day.

Prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Dhola-Sadia Bridge across the river Brahmaputra. Also seen are the governor of Assam, Banwarilal Purohit; Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari and the chief minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal.

Road connectivity in the North-East is set to see a major transformation. Prime minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the country’s longest river bridge – the Dhola- Sadiya Bridge – in Assam.

This new, three-lane, 9.15-kilometre-long bridge has been built over the river Lohit, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, linking Dhola to Sadiya in Assam. The bridge will fill a huge connectivity gap that has existed in the region. Till now, the only means to cross the Brahmaputra at this location has been by ferry, that too only in day-time. The Dhola-Sadiya bridge now ensures 24x7 connectivity between upper Assam and the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh.

The bridge will also reduce the distance from Rupai on NH-37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh by 165km. The travel time between the two places will come down from the current six hours to just one hour – a total five hour reduction. This will result in saving of petrol and diesel worth Rs 10 lakh per day.

The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge has been constructed on a BOT annuity basis at a total cost of Rs 2,056 crore, as part of the Arunachal Package of Roads and Highways under the Ministry’s Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE).

Later, addressing a public meeting at Dhola, the prime minister said the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country have the greatest potential for economic development.

Images: PIB