Pillars of Progress: The Phulbari-Dhubri Bridge Nears Completion

The border towns of Phulbari in Meghalaya and Dhubri in Assam are set to transform travel with the near completion of the 19.28-km bridge over the Brahmaputra River. This bridge will drastically reduce travel time, cutting the 220-km, seven-hour journey to just 20 minutes, and will provide quicker access to North Bengal, reducing the travel time to just 6.5 hours. Despite challenges like frequent floods and adverse weather, round-the-clock construction has allowed 59 percent of the project to be completed. The bridge is expected to be fully operational by September 2028.

Larsen & Toubro is spearheading the construction, and a recent site visit by officials highlighted the progress made and the significant benefits the bridge will offer. Once completed, the Phulbari-Dhubri bridge will be the longest river bridge in India, with only Mumbai’s Atal Setu being longer overall, spanning over the sea.

The bridge will be supported by over 100 pillars on the Meghalaya side and will initially feature four lanes open to public traffic, with two additional lanes dedicated to emergency and defense services. The project was first proposed in 2011, with support from then Union Minister CP Joshi to former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

The total cost of the project is Rs 3,166 crore, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and is being closely monitored by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and officials from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) to ensure its timely and high-quality completion.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.