By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 18: The much-awaited 19-km-long Phulbari-Dhubri bridge is now 63 percent complete.
The construction of the four-lane bridge, including approaches over the River Brahmaputra between Dhubri (on the north bank of Assam) and Phulbari (on the south bank of Meghalaya) on NH-127B, is being implemented under the JICA ODA Loan Assistance (Phase III).
The project was awarded in 2022.
According to an NHIDCL status report, the 19.28 km bridge is being constructed at a cost of ₹4,997.04 crore. While the physical progress stands at 63 percent, the financial progress has reached 61 percent. The expected date of completion for this massive project is September 12, 2028.
The project is being executed by Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Heavy Civil Infrastructure IC (L&T).
Spanning the Brahmaputra River between Assam and Meghalaya, the bridge is regarded as a transformative project for surface connectivity in Northeast. With a total length of 19.3 km and supported by 199 pillars, it will be the longest river bridge in the country once completed.
The bridge will drastically reduce travel distance between Phulbari in Meghalaya and Dhubri in Assam by more than 200 km, thereby improving regional connectivity. It is expected to facilitate better logistics, easier transportation of goods, and increased economic activities.
Serving as the western entry and exit point for Meghalaya, the bridge will also open new trade routes and boost regional development. Upon completion, it is expected to handle major traffic heading towards Guwahati, reducing congestion and enhancing connectivity across the Northeast.
