Hello everyone, we are back with our another article. This article is about one of the greatest marvel in the rapid infrastructural developments in India, yes, we are talking about India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge: Bogibeel.
Longest Rail-Cum-Road Bridge
It is a combined rail and road bridge which is built on the Brahmaputra river in the north eastern Indian state of Assam between Dibrugarh and Dhemaji district. Bogibeel river bridge is India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge, measuring 4.94 kilometers over the great Brahmaputra river. This bridge is having a 2 lane road on the upper deck and a double rail line on the lower deck.
5th Longest Bridge in India
India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge: Bogibeel, is actually the 5th longest bridge in India. The top four bridges in India are:
- Bhupen Hazarika Setu
- Dibang River Bridge
- Mahatma Gandhi Setu
- Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Earthquake Challenge
Since Bogibeel bridge is situated on earthquake-prone area, it required fully welded steel-concrete support beams, so as to withstand earthquakes of magnitudes up to 7 on the Richter Scale. India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge: Bogibeel is also the second longest rail-cum-road bridge in Asia. With this gigantic length, the challenge of prevention from earthquake became more intense and this bridge has got a serviceable period of around 120 years.
Inauguration
In 1997-98, this project was sanctioned by the Government of India and was expected to be completed by March 2002. Therefore, its foundation was laid in 1997 by Prime Minister H.D.Deva Gowda, however, due to lack of funds and attention its construction was inaugurated in 2002 by Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and took 200 months to complete. On the occasion of the Good Governance Day, on 25th December, 2018 it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Structure
This megastructure consists of 41 spans of 125 m and a superstructure of composite welded steel truss and reinforced concrete. Bogibeel bridge is designed to carry a 2-lane road on the upper deck and a double line 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge railway on the lower deck. This bridge is of tremendous significance for India’s defense, especially due to its proximity to the China border. India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge: Bogibeel is strong enough to support the movement of tanks and even fighter jet landings.