New Delhi: Billed as India's longest railroad bridge, Assam's Bogibeel Bridge was opened to traffic today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The five-kilometre structure spans the waters of the mighty Brahmaputra River. It is India's only fully welded bridge for which european codes and welding standards were adhered to for the first time in the country, said Chief Engineer Mohinder Singh.
The bridge, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,900 crore, has a serviceable period of around 120 years, will reduce travel time from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh to four hours and will cut out the detour of over 170 km via Tinsukia.
Here are the highlights from Bogibeel Bridge inauguration:
Dec 25, 2018 15:29 (IST)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the New Tinsukia - Naharlagun Express linking Naharlagun in Arunachal pradesh to Tinsukia in Assam.
Dec 25, 2018 13:37 (IST)
PM Modi lands in Dibrugarh, Assam.
Dec 25, 2018 13:15 (IST)
More than 50,000 people have gathered at the public event in Dhemaji from where PM Modi will address them.
Dec 25, 2018 13:07 (IST)
After inauguration, PM Modi is expected to take a 5km ride on the road bridge to the other side, Dhemaji, and flag off the New Tinsukia-Naharlagun intercity express linking Naharlagun in Aruanchal pradesh to Tinsukia in Assam.
Dec 25, 2018 13:05 (IST)
PM Modi will land at Dibrugarh in Assam at 1:30pm and will directly go to the Bogibeel Bridge for inauguration.
Dec 25, 2018 11:27 (IST)
The bridge has a two-line railway track on the lower deck and a three-lane road on the top deck. It will reduce the Delhi to Dibrugarh train travel time by about three hours.
Dec 25, 2018 11:27 (IST)
With its proximity to the China border, the Bogibeel Bridge has tremendous significance for India's defence and has been built strong enough to support the movement of tanks and even fighter jet landings.