Any region’s development is dependent on its connectivity to the rest of the world. Our country’s northeast region is a tourist hotspot with plenty of opportunities for trade and business. Because of their geographical location, the northeastern states have less connectivity. The Government of India has initiated several projects in the region to improve connectivity, one of which is the Dhubri Phulbari Bridge, which will be the country’s longest river bridge.
Dhubri Phulbari is a bridge currently under construction that connects Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya over a total length of 19.28 km, which is twice the length of India’s current longest river bridge “Bhupen Hazarika Setu”.
The bridge spans the Brahmaputra River near the Bangladesh border. This bridge will improve connectivity and boost trade, tourism, and employment in the country’s northeastern region.
Table of contents
Dhubri Phulbari Bridge – History
The primary reason for building this bridge was to improve regional connectivity. Travelling from Meghalaya to Assam would require a 250-kilometre detour via the Nara Narayan Bridge.
It was also too dangerous for people to cross the Brahmaputra River, as one incident had happened where a boat crossing the Brahmaputra River capsized in 2012, killing at least 100 people.
The bridge was proposed 5 years ago by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in February 2021, and construction is expected to be completed by 2027–28. The bridge will be built as part of the “North-East Road Network Connectivity Project Phase-03”, with loan assistance from JICA.
Dhubri Phulbari Bridge – Architecture
This bridge will be built along National Highway 127-B and include a navigation bridge of 12.625 kilometres, approach viaducts of 3.5 kilometres on the Dhubri side and 2.2 kilometres on the Phulbari side, and approach roads on both sides.
It will be a 19.28 km long four-lane highway, with 12.6 km on the river and 6.7 km on land.
The construction of this bridge will take a long time because it can only be worked on for six months of the year when the flow of the Brahmaputra River is relatively low.
Cost And Length
It is a huge project by the Government of India, and due to the nature of conditions over the Brahmaputra, it requires a lot of resources. Its cost was estimated at Rs 4997 crore. Larsen and Toubro (L&T) have been awarded the contract to build the Dhubri Phulbari Bridge for a tender of Rs 3,166 crores.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will fund the bridge, and the end employer is the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), a Government of India entity.
This bridge will span over the Brahmaputra River for a total length of 19.28 km and will thus be the longest river bridge in India. 12.6 km of the bridge will be built on water.
This bridge will reduce the distance between Dhubri and Phulbari from 250 km to just 19.3 km and will reduce the ferry time from 2.5 hours to just 15 minutes by vehicle.
The bridge will likely carry more than 20 lakh people annually once finished, which will have a significant socioeconomic impact on the two regions.
Conclusion
He Dubri Phulbari Bridge will connect India’s North-Eastern states to the rest of the country. It will also provide a significant boost to regional trade and commerce, which will aid in the development of India’s North-Eastern states. It will also generate new job opportunities in the region. This bridge will shorten the detour road distance between Dhubri and Phulbari by approximately 250 kilometres, as well as boost international trade between Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. The bridge is important and advantageous from a geostrategic standpoint for mobilising strategic forces along international borders. The bridge will provide the quickest connectivity to Meghalaya, Tripura, and the Barak Valley. The bridge will be built near Bangladesh’s international border. It will also improve access to urban markets and supply chains, increasing the reach and export of perishable farm goods.
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FAQ’s
Which company is building the Dhubri Phulbari Bridge?
Larsen and Toubro (L&T) have been awarded the contract to build the Dhubri Phulbari Bridge for a tender of Rs 3,166 crores.
Is Dhubri Phulbari Bridge completed?
Foundation stone for the bridge was laid in February 2021, and the construction is expected to be completed in 2027–28.
Which is the longest bridge in Meghalaya?
Dhubri Phulbari Bridge will be the longest river bridge in Meghalaya and India.
How long is the Dhubri Phulbari Bridge?
Dhubri Phulbari bridge is 19.28-km-long.
