The Bhupen Hazarika Setu, also referred to as the Dhola–Sadiya Bridge, is a beam bridge in India, connecting the northeast states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. At 9.15 kilometres (5.69 mi) in length, it is the longest bridge in India over water. However, the 9.76 kilometres (6.06 mi) Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur Bridge under construction in the Indian state of Bihar, is expected to become the longest bridge in India upon its estimated completion in November 2021.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways started a feasibility study of the project in August 2003 after demands from local constituents. In January 2009 the bridge was approved for construction with funding from the Government of India as part of the Arunachal Pradesh Package of Roads and Highways.
Construction began in November 2011 as a public-private partnership with Navayuga Engineering Company, with an expected completion in 2015. However, due to construction delays and cost increases, the bridge’s completion date was pushed into 2017.
The project cost around ?1,000 crore (equivalent to ?11 billion or US$158 million in 2019) and construction took over five years to complete. It is 3.55 kilometres (2.21 mi) longer than the Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, making it the longest bridge in India.
The bridge was inaugurated on 26 May 2017 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Road Transport and Highways). The bridge is named after Bhupen Hazarika an artist and filmmaker from Assam.
Picture Credit : Google
