Bhupen Hazarika Setu: How India’s Longest Riverine Bridge Aids Military Movement To China Border

India is home to more than 173,000 bridges of various sizes and designs. Many of these structures have earned national recognition for their significance, from the iconic Howrah Bridge, once the country’s largest cantilever bridge, to the Atal Setu, the longest sea bridge in India.

But do you know which bridge holds the title of the longest river bridge in the country? It’s the Bhupen Hazarika Setu in Assam. Also known as the Dhola–Sadiya Bridge, this landmark structure connects the state of Assam with Arunachal Pradesh.

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Bhupen Hazarika Setu: Key Details

- Length: 9.5 KM

- Terminal points: Dhola (Assam) Sadiya (Arunachal Pradesh)

- Cost: Approximately between Rs 876 crore to Rs 2,056 crore

- The bridge was built in a public-private partnership by the Navyuga Engineering Company. The Government of India and Navyuga Engineering signed an agreement in November 2011 to construct the bridge.

- Construction of the bridge began in 2011 and the bridge was operational in 2017. The bridge is built over the Lohit river on the Brahmaputra river.

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- Besides the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, the company has been involved in the construction of several major infrastructure projects, including the Kaleshwaram–Sundila Barrage, the Dibang–Lohit River Bridge, the Ganges River Bridge, the Krishnapatnam Port, and the Polavaram Dam Project.

- The Bhupen Hazarika Setu has brought remarkable progress to the surrounding region. Its construction has significantly boosted tourism, which in turn has stimulated economic development in nearby villages such as Dhola and Sadiya. 

- It has also benefited the local real estate market and contributed to a strong overall economic upswing.

- The bridge is also strategic from the perspective of the military; the Bhupen Hazarika Setu can accommodate battle tanks weighing over 60 tons. 

- This capability makes the bridge exceptionally important for transporting military equipment toward the China border.