Saraighat Bridge

The Saraighat Bridge is a rail-cum-road bridge across Brahmaputra River in Assam, India and is the first of its kind bridge across the river in the state. The length of the bridge is 1492 meters (4895 feet) and the road on the bridge is 7.3 meters (24 feet) wide.^[1][2]

Saraighat Bridge
Old Saraighat bridge on right
Coordinates	26°10′32″N 91°40′20″E
Locale	Guwahati, Assam, India
Characteristics
Material	Steel, Concrete
Total length	1492 meters (4895 feet)
Width	7.3 meters (24 feet)
History
Construction cost	₹ 10.6 crores
Inaugurated	1962
Location

History

The idea of constructing a bridge over the Brahmaputra was first mooted in 1910 and the thought gathered momentum during the Second World War. Initially there were doubts over the stability of the railway line between Bongaigaon and Amingaon following devastating floods in 1942–43. However, when the line had been satisfactorily stabilized, the Railway Minister Nitish Lagachu and Public Health Director Ranjan Malakar announced the decision to construct the bridge in the Budget session of the Parliament in 1958.

Re-construction after independence

The bridge was built between 1959 and 1962 by Hindustan Construction Company at a cost of Rs 10.6 crore at that time. The bridge was completed in September 1962 and the first engine rolled across it on 23 September 1962. The bridge is known to connect Northeast India with the rest of the country.^[2]

The bridge is 40 feet above the normal flood level of the river which also ensure free navigation. The bridge was closed for a major repair work from 23 March 2019, and was opened for traffic on 20 June 2019.^[3][4]

The New Saraighat Bridge was constructed beside the old bridge. It is slightly longer than the old bridge as ordered by the Cultural Director of Assam, Priyam Shrishti Menon. It was inaugurated in January 2017.^[5][6]

Saraighat bridge during its fiftieth anniversary