Assam: RDSO Approved DBR of New Saraighat Bridge Project

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: In a much-anticipated development for the proposed Agthori-Kamakhya rail-cum-road bridge, the Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) recently approved the Design Basis Report (DBR) for the bridge project.

This was revealed in a recent report named 'Brief of all Projects' issued by the Construction wing of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

The NFR has officially commenced work on the much-awaited Agthori-Kamakhya double line project, featuring a rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat near Guwahati. With an estimated cost of Rs 1,473.77 crore, the project spans a length of 7.062 kilometres and is targeted for completion by December 2029.

According to the report, the Design Basis Report (DBR) for the bridge project was approved by RDSO on March 7, 2025. DBR is a comprehensive document with the project's design rationale, principles, assumptions, and constraints. On the other hand, RDSO is the research and development wing of the Ministry of Railways, which is responsible for designing, standardising, and testing railway equipment and infrastructure.

Originally included in the 2017-18 railway budget, the project aims to significantly boost connectivity and decongest existing routes between Agthori, on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, and Guwahati's Kamakhya on the south bank. The report states that an expenditure of Rs. 1.364 crore has been incurred up to March 2024. The overall financial progress of the project stands at 0.09%, the report stated.

Moreover, it was stated that a detailed estimate amounting to Rs 1473.77 crore was sanctioned by the Railway Board on February 19, 2024. DDC (Detailed Design Consultancy) under Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Ltd is currently undertaking geotechnical investigations, general arrangement drawing (GAD), and the design of the substructure, superstructure, and bill of quantities (BOQ) for the project. After this, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) tender will be called.

Meanwhile, the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute (NEHARI), located in North Guwahati, completed the model study on the bridge project in January, 2025, and submitted the report to the NFR. The NEHARI is a part of the Brahmaputra Board that carries out hydraulic model studies, provides consultancy services and conducts capacity-building exercises.

In September 2022, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that in line with PM's Gati Shakti, the project for a rail-cum-road bridge across the Brahmaputra River near the existing Saraighat Bridge at Guwahati has been approved at the cost of Rs. 996.75 crore, which will be shared by NHAI & the Ministry of Railways. He said the approaches and viaducts, at a cost of Rs. 322 crore, will be entirely built by NHAI.

The bridge project will improve rail and road connectivity across the Brahmaputra, enhancing both passenger and freight traffic.

 Also Read: Rs 1473-Crore Rail-Cum-Road Bridge at Saraighat Sanctioned: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

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