Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the Bogibeel bridge — India’s longest and Asia’s second longest rail-cum-road bridge on December 25.

The 4.94 km bridge, which has been a dream for people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for the past 21 years is situated over the mighty Brahmaputra river, 17 km downstream of upper Assam’s Dibrugarh city.

Tight security arrangements are made on both sides of the bridge for the inaugural programme, according to Assam DGP Kuladhar Saikia. Special Protection Group personnel have also started camping at the venue ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.

What to expect?

The Northeast Frontier Railway is expected to run four passenger trains to ferry people who are willing to witness the inaugural function.

The Bogibeel bridge with double line broad gauge track and three-lane road will be the lifeline of the northeastern part of India as it is expected to facilitate connectivity between the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra river in the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge will also be linked with the NH-37 at south bank and NH-52 at the north bank of the Brahmaputra river.
 
The bridge is expected to reduce the travel time for people traveling between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and provide better rail-road connectivity to the lesser developed areas of both the states. It will also reduce Delhi to Dibrugarh train-travel time by at least three hours.

The Bogibeel bridge is also expected to enhance the security of the northeastern region by making traveling easier for the armed forces. This bridge will help in providing logistical support to the Indian Army deployed at the India-China border at Arunachal Pradesh.

Details about the project

The Bogibeel Bridge Project was a part of the Assam Accord of 1985. While HD Deve Gowda, laid the foundation stone on January 22, 1997, Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated the construction work on April 21, 2002.

The project was initially sanctioned at a cost of Rs 3,230 crores but was later revised to Rs 5,920 crores.
 
 The super-structure of the Bogibeel bridge is fully welded composite warren type truss having span configuration of 1x32.75 m + 39x125m + 1x32.75 m with two broad gauge tracks on the lower deck and three-lane road on the upper deck.

This is the first time that such a superstructure is constructed in India. The design of the composite welded truss was done by M/s. Ramboll, Denmark through M/s RITES Ltd and the proof-check was done by M/s Anwikar Consultant, Germany. It is estimated that the bridge is durable and serviceable for 120 years.

 Chief Public Relation Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NF Railway), Pranav Jyoti Sharma said, “The bridge is fully welded and constructed following European international best practices. Assam is located in the seismic zone V and the bridge is taking care of the seismic effects and it has been designed as an earth quakeproof structure.”