It is said that bridges are the roads to success. In India, bridges are a significant element in analyzing the infrastructure condition of the nation. The fundamental purpose of a bridge is to connect unconnected locations.
The secondary goal of constructing bridges is to offload roads and ease traffic. Whenever a bridge is constructed, in India or anywhere else, it generates more business avenues, reduces travel duration, and increases job opportunities.
Here's a rundown of the longest bridges in India:
Dhola Sadiya Bridge: 9.15 Km, Assam
Dhola Sadiya bridge is also recognized as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu. Dhola Sadiya Bridge is over the prestigious Brahmaputra and it becomes India's longest bridge above the water.
The 9.15 km long bridge links Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It lessens the distance between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 165 Km and cut down the travel duration by 5 hours.
This is constructed as a beam bridge. Beam bridges are the simplest form when it comes to designing this kind of facility. The idea of this was initially imagined by the then Chief Minister Mukut Mithi of Arunachal Pradesh in 2003. It took 14 long years to finish the work and was fast-tracked only in 2011.
Dibang River Bridge: 6.2 Km, Arunachal Pradesh
Dibang River Bridge further realized as the Sikang Bridge. The Dibang River Bridge over Dibang River in Arunachal Pradesh is the second-longest road bridge in India, after Bhupen Hazarika Setu and followed by Mahatma Gandhi Setu.
It is 6.2 Km long. It is an extremely significant bridge for strategic purposes, as it assists the Indian Army to reach the China border in a shorter duration. Its construction started in April 2013 and it was open for the public in 2018.
Mahatma Gandhi Setu: 5.6 Km, Bihar
Mahatma Gandhi Setu is the third-longest bridge in India, over the river Ganges linking Patna in the south to Hajipur. It is 5750 meters long river bridge and one of the prominent traveller magnets of the state.
It was unveiled by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982. It was the longest bridge for multiple years before the Dibang Bridge was inaugurated. Gandhi Setu is an engineering wonder. This bridge is built over river Ganga.
Like several infrastructure operations in India, this similarly saw terrific delay and bureaucratic obstacles before completion. The work on this commenced in 1972 when the original cost was estimated at Rs. 23.50 crore and planned for completion by 1978. When it ultimately completed in 1982 the cost was Rs. 87 crore which is close to 4 times the original estimate.
Bandra Worli Sea Link: 5.57 Km, Maharashtra
Bandra Worli Sea Link is the fourth-longest bridge in India. It is a phenomenon constructed in India. The Bandra Worli Sea Link joins Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai.
The 5.57 long bridge is a portion of the proposed Western Freeway. This is the most glamorous bridge in India. After completion, the travel duration lessened to 10 minutes from the earlier 60 minutes.
The overall formation cost of this is Rs. 750 crore which creates this as one of the costliest bridges in India. The ride through this incredible man-made spectacle is stunning. Apart from offering connectivity, this has become a go-to location for traveller and locals likewise. Its construction started in 2000 and it was open for the public in March 2010.
Bogibeel Bridge: 4.94 Km, Assam
Bogibeel Bridge is a blended road and rail bridge over the Brahmaputra River between Dhemaji and Dibrugarh districts in Assam. Bogibeel River Bridge is the longest Rail cum Road Bridge in India.
As it is positioned in an earthquake-prone location it is India's first bridge to have fully fused steel-concrete support beams that can endure earthquakes of magnitudes up to 7 on the Richter scale.
It is Asia's 2nd longest rail cum Road Bridge and has a functional duration of over 120 years. Its construction started in April 2002 and it was open for the public in December 2018. This links the districts of Dibrugarh and Dhemaji.
This is constructed over the Brahmaputra River and provides connectivity to all of upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The upper layer of the bridge is a 3-lane roadway and the lower layer is a 2-line broad gauge railway.
The engineering layout format is recognized as truss bridges. This kind of bridge is relatively economical to build and maintain. The Ikutsuki Bridge in Nagasaki, Japan is the longest continual truss bridge in the world.
Vikramshila Setu: 4.7 Km, Bihar
Vikramshila Setu is a bridge over the Ganges, near Bhagalpur in the state of Bihar, titled after the bygone Mahavihara of Vikramashila which was created by King Dharmapala. Vikramshila Setu is the 5th longest bridge in India.
The 4.7 km long two-lane bridge operates from Barari Ghat to Naugachia. Another one from Bihar titled after the historical learning center of Pala Empire. Nalanda, the popular historical educational institute is Vikramshila's contemporary.
This provides links to several districts of Bihar namely Naugachia, Purnia, and Kathiar. Requests for constructing another parallel bridge alongside this are on the upswing. The bridge was opened for the public in 2001. The bridge experiences terrible traffic congestion at moments.
Vembanad Rail Bridge: 4.62 Km, Kerala
Vembanad Rail Bridge is a bridge linking Edappally and Vallarpadam in Kochi, Kerala. With an absolute length of 4,620 meters, it is the longest railway bridge in the nation. The railway line is devoted exclusively to freight trains.
The Vembanad Rail Bridge is the most gorgeous in Kerala. This bridge permits just 15 trains to pass each day.
This bridge is constructed on the picturesque Vembanad Lake. Further called Edappally - Vallarpadam bridge as it links both these locations. Its Construction started in June 2007. The bridge was opened for the public in 2011.
Strategically constructed and is extremely significant as Vallarpadam is a Catholic pilgrim hub. Vallarpadam furthermore has a global transshipment container terminal which assists in stimulating trade from this territory.
Digha Sonpur Bridge: 4.55 Km, Bihar
Digha Sonpur Rail Road Bridge is further recognized as J.P Setu. Digha Sonpur railroad Bridge is a bridge across the river Ganges, linking Digha Ghat and Pahleja Ghat in Bihar. The rail cum Road Bridge provides easy roadway and railway connection between northern and southern regions of Bihar. Its Construction commenced in 2003.
The bridge 4.55 km long roadway and railway Link Bridge is the second railway bridge in Bihar, inaugurated on 3 February 2016.
The landscape of Bihar is such that the river Ganges splits it into two portions. That brings forward a primary obstacle to transportation. Therefore, constructing these kinds of bridges is a long-term solution. To generate full use of this bridge, the railway station of Patliputra and Bharpura have been constructed on either side of it.
Arrah Chhapra Bridge: 4.35 Km, Bihar
Arrah Chhapra Bridge is further known as Veer Kunwar Singh Setu is the multi-span bridge over the Ganges River linking Arrah and Chhapra of Bihar. Politician Nitish Kumar placed the foundation stone for the Bridge in July 2010.
It was opened for public use on 11 June 2017. Arrah Chhapra Bridge lessened the distance between Chapra and Arrah from 130 km to 40 km. This is a four-way road bridge linking two prominent cities of Bihar.
The cities of Arrah and Chapra are joined via this link. Arrah is a historically significant location whereas Chapra has an often travelled Ambika temple. According to estimates, this bridge reduced the distance of travelling from 120 km to 21 km. Now people have the alternative of the direct route instead of taking a detour towards Patna. It cost more than 800 crores.
Godavari Bridge: 4.13 Km, Andhra Pradesh
The Godavari Forth Bridge is also called as KovvurRajahmundry 4th Bridge and is constructed over the Godavari River in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. This bridge was built, to lessen the road distance between Kolkata & Chennai by a minimum of 150 kilometers.
This dual bridge links Kovvur in West Godavari district to Diwancheruvu Junction in Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari district via Katheru, Konthamuru, Palacherla regions in Rajamahendravaram City.
This is one of the three bridges constructed here above the Godavari River. With most of the surrounding region developed the construction of a roadway was unavoidable. So, to enhance the development a new rail-cum-road link was constructed.
The cost is over 800 crore. It was opened for the general public in 2015. These bridges are engineering wonders. Exploring such structures and appreciating the work and efforts put into them can be an amazing experience.
