₹1,473 Crore Boost: Guwahati Gets Second Rail-Road Bridge

Construction of the second rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat, Guwahati, is set to begin soon, according to officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

The project, part of the doubling of the Agthori–Kamakhya railway line, has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹1,473.77 crore and was approved during the 2023–24 financial year. The bridge is targeted for completion by December 2029. The Railway Board cleared the detailed project estimates in February 2024, followed by final approval of the design and project report in March.

Geotechnical investigations for both the substructure and superstructure have been completed. An EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) tender has been floated for the full scope of construction, which includes the main bridge, approach roads, rail viaducts, earthwork, and ancillary infrastructure. According to an NFR spokesperson, the tender is expected to be finalised shortly, with construction commencing immediately thereafter.

The project spans 7.062 km from Agthori to Kamakhya, and features a 1.3 km-long steel composite girder bridge. The design incorporates a double-line railway track on the lower deck and a three-lane roadway with footpaths on the upper deck, significantly boosting both rail and road connectivity across the Brahmaputra.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.