Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will develop NH 115 from the end of the Dhola-Sadiya bridge approach to the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border outpost at Shantipur through the Assam PWD (NH division). The cost of development of this stretch of NH 115 is estimated at Rs 40.09 crore.
The stretch of NH 115 from the end of the Dhola-Sadiya bridge approach road to the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border outpost at Shantipur in the Tinsukia district is currently a two-lane one. This will be developed into a two-lane road with paved shoulders.
A two-lane road with paved shoulders has two lanes for traffic on a paved road surface, with additional paved areas (shoulders) on either side of the lanes for emergency stopping, lateral support, and pedestrian/bicycle use when no dedicated paths are available, according to MoRTH.
After the approval from MoRTH, the Assam PWD (NH division) has now invited bids for construction works to develop this stretch of road. Assam PWD has also set a target of 290 days, including the rainy period, for completion of the work from the appointment date.
The MoRTH has named this project “Upgradation of Existing NH-115 from 2-Jane Configuration to 2-lane with Paved Shoulder from km 44.369 to km 54.806 (length-10.437 km) (end of Dhola-Sadiya Bridge Approach at Islampur to Assam-Arunachal Pradesh B.O.P. at Shantipur) in Tinsukia District under Dibrugarh NH Division in the state of Assam under EPC mode.”
The construction firm that bags this work has to maintain this stretch of the NH 115 for a period of 3 years from the actual date of completion.
The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, also known as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, is a significant landmark in Northeast India, connecting the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It is India’s longest river bridge, spanning 9.15 km across the Lohit River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra. This bridge provides a permanent road connection between northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge has considerable strategic importance as it significantly eases India’s ability to transport troops and supplies to the border with China, which poses a threat to this part of the country.
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