DPR Ready, Loan Deal Signed With JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)

GUWAHATI: Assam continues to script new records in bridges, erasing its own records. With the nation’s longest five-km road-cum-rail Bogibeel bridge going to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25 this year, the next in the line is the 20-km Dhubri-Phulbari bridge over the Brahmaputra. The construction of this bridge, going to be the longest of its kind in the country, is going to be started from fiscal 2019-20.

The 9.15-km Bhupen Hazarika Setu (between Dhola and Sadia over the river Lohit) is the longest road bridge in India so far. However, a bridge over the Ganga under construction in Bihar is going to be the longest such road bridge in the nation. However, the under construction bridge in Bihar is not going to retain the status of the ‘longest bridge’ in the country for long as the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge over the Brahmaputra is going to be the longest bridge in the country.

The DPR (detailed project report) of the bridge has already been prepared and approved. The JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)-funded project is being implemented by the Union Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under the execution of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL). Ms AECOM, a consultancy agency, has prepared the DPR after the feasibility study. Now the Union Ministry has forwarded the DPR to the PIB (Public Investment Board) which is evaluating it. After approval from the PIB all preliminary works of the bridge project will be over.

It is significant that the Government of India has already signed an agreement with JICA for the funding of the bridge project.

Talking to The Sentinel, NHIDCL’s Northeast Executive Director Ajay Ahluwalia said: “The DPR of the project has been under PIB evaluation. We hope early approval from the PIB. After approval from the PIB, we’re going to float the tender on completion of all official procedure with a view to starting the project from fiscal 2019-20.”

Building bridges figuratively means improving relationships between people. It also stands true when viewed literally from the point of view of connectivity. Better connectivity is a must for better relationships between the people of the Northeast and that of the rest of India. At present a person travelling from Phulbari to Dhubri by road around has to traverse around 200 km. Such a distance kills a passenger’s time, besides burning a hole in his/her pocket. This bridge is the most sought-after one for the people of Meghalaya than those of Assam.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 4,044 crore.

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