New Rail-Cum-Road Bridge Over Brahmaputra Set for Completion by 2029

Second Bridge at Saraighat: A Major Infrastructure Project

Guwahati, July 20: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is nearing the completion of the tender process for the much-anticipated second rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat, with an expected completion date set for December 2029.

Approved during the financial year 2023–24, the project has an estimated budget of Rs 1,473.77 crore and will be integral to the doubling of the Agthori–Kamakhya railway line.

NFR officials have confirmed that the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) tender documents are in the final stages and will be released shortly.

An official stated, “The detailed designs and technical drawings have received approval, and geotechnical investigations have been completed. We are now finalizing the tender.”

The bridge will span 7.062 kilometers between Agthori and Kamakhya, featuring a 1.3-kilometer-long steel composite girder bridge over the Brahmaputra.

This structure will support double-line railway tracks on the lower deck and a three-lane road with pedestrian pathways on the upper deck.

Once operational, the new Saraighat bridge will alleviate congestion on the existing bridge, which has been in use since 1963, and enhance traffic flow for both rail and road users.

Moreover, the bridge is expected to significantly contribute to the economic growth of the region, particularly as Guwahati develops into a commercial and logistics center.

The project is also projected to generate numerous local jobs during its construction phase and accommodate the rising freight and passenger traffic along the corridor.

Construction is anticipated to commence soon after the tender is awarded, with all elements—including the bridge, approach roads, viaducts, and embankments—expected to be completed by December 2029.