Dhola–Sadiya Bridge Explained

Dhola–Sadiya Bridge
Official Name:Bhupen Hazarika Setu
Native Name Lang:as
Carries:Motor vehicles
Crosses:Lohit River
Locale:Dhola–Sadiya, Assam, India
Design:Beam bridge
Spans:183
Mainspan:50m (160feet)
Length:9.15km (05.69miles)
Width:12.9m (42.3feet)
Coordinates:27.7986°N 95.6761°W
Begin:November 2011
Complete:10 March 2017
Open:26 May 2017

The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, officially known as Bhupen Hazarika Bridge, is a beam bridge in India, connecting the northeast states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.[1] The bridge spans the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra, connecting the village of Dhola in the south to the village of Sadiya to the north, both in Tinsukia district of Assam, and providing convenient access to Arunachal Pradesh, whose border lies a short distance from Sadiya.[2] The bridge is the first permanent road connection between the northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh.[3]

At in length, it is the second longest bridge in India over water.[4] [5] However, the 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 2025.[6] [7]

With rapid movement of India's defense assets in mind following incursions by the Chinese Army, the Dhola–Sadiya Bridge has been designed to handle the weight of 60adj=onNaNadj=on tanks such as the Indian Army's Arjun and T-72 main battle tanks.[8] [9] Since the Sino-Indian War, China has disputed India's claim to Arunachal Pradesh, politically and militarily, along the Line of Actual Control, making the bridge an important tactical asset in the ongoing dispute.[10]

Construction

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways started a feasibility study of the project in August 2003 after demands from local constituents.[9] 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.[11] [12]

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.[13] [14]

The project cost around and construction took over five years to complete.[15] It is longer than the Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, making it the longest bridge in India.[16]

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.[17]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Dhola-Sadiya bridge not enough, China still miles ahead of India in infrastructure along LAC. The Economic Times. 28 May 2017. Shaurya . Karanbir Gurung. 15 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Dhola-Sadiya: A Bridge of New Hope for the North East. pib.nic.in. 23 June 2017.
  3. News: All you need to know about Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, India's longest river bridge. The Hindu. 26 May 2017.
  4. Web site: Longest bridge in India provides a quick link to LAC.
  5. Web site: The mighty Brahmaputra is the biggest hurdle to the country's longest bridge.
  6. News: India: Bihar New Ganga Bridge Project. 27 May 2017. Asian Development Bank.
  7. Web site: Work on 9.8 km long ADB-supported bridge on Ganga in Bihar to start soon. Financial Express. 1 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701201819/http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/work-on-9-8-km-long-adb-supported-bridge-on-ganga-in-bihar-to-start-soon/551098/. 1 July 2017. 14 February 2017. As per the loan agreement, the project is scheduled to complete by December 2020..
  8. Web site: India's Longest Bridge, Built For Tanks, To Open In Assam Today: 10 Facts.
  9. Web site: Dhola Sadia bridge: 10 facts about India's longest bridge on the Brahmaputra. 25 May 2017.
  10. Web site: Subir Bhaumik. India opens longest bridge on China border. BBC News. 27 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170527102322/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40042438. 27 May 2017. 26 May 2017. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own, and refers to it as "southern Tibet". [...] "With China getting more and more aggressive, it is time we strengthened our physical infrastructure to defend our territory," India's junior Home Minister Khiren Rijiju, a native of Arunachal Pradesh, told journalists..
  11. Web site: English Releases.
  12. Web site: How PM Modi fulfilled Vajpayee's 'dream' to build India's longest Bhupen Hazarika Bridge between Dhola, Sadiya in Assam. The Financial Express. 27 May 2017. 26 May 2017.
  13. Web site: A bridge too far. https://web.archive.org/web/20150529154139/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140407/jsp/northeast/story_18163848.jsp#.VYuPOUZe-6E. dead. 29 May 2015. The Telegraph (Calcutta). 7 April 2015. 25 June 2015.
  14. Web site: Development in North East. pib.nic.in.
  15. Web site: 3 years of Narendra Modi government: India's longest bridge to be called Bhupen Hazarika Bridge, says PM Modi. Business Today India. 28 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170526082936/http://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/pm-narendra-modi-inaugurate-dhola-sadiya-india-longest-bridge-assam/story/253019.html. 26 May 2017. 26 May 2017. Its construction started in 2011. The approximate cost of the project is said to be around Rs 10 billion..
  16. Web site: Longest bridge in India provides a quick link to LAC. 4 May 2015.
  17. News: India opens longest bridge on China border. 26 May 2017. BBC News. 26 May 2017. Bhaumik. Subir.

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