GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday reviewed the progress in the construction work of country’s longest rail-cum-road bridge at Bogibeel over Brahmaputra River at Dibrugarh and expressed confidence that the bridge would be opened for public within this year.
In the meeting held at the Railway Guest House near the bridge for taking stock of the construction work, the chief minister urged General Manger of NF Railway and other officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and concerned agencies to complete the road over-bridge being constructed over National Highway 37 connecting Bogibeel Bridge within November 30. He also called on the NF Railway to provide technical knowledge and required manpower for completing the over-bridge within time. Similarly, he asked the NF Railway to properly maintain the over-bridge near Dibrugarh University for benefit of the travellers.
Saying that the Bogibeel Bridge will not only connect the Dhemaji and Dibrugarh districts at the north and south banks of Brahmaputra river, Sonowal told media later that this longest rail-cum-road bridge in the country will also be crucial for the economic development of the region, strengthen security scenario apart from boosting the connectivity for the people of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh also. He exuded confidence that the bridge will be opened for public within this year and the Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the bridge.
The chief minister also directed for installing adequate lighting systems at the roads connecting Bogibeel Bridge measuring 1 km on each side and he instructed for exploring the possibility of using solar powered lights. He also took stock of the progress of the proposal given to Railway Department to prepare a special scheme for turning the bridge into a place of tourist attraction. The chief minister also requested the Railway Department for planting trees at both banks connected by the bridge.