North East Development: 21 years of wait ends for Bogibeel Bridge
ONI Bureau: Ending 21 years of wait for people of North East, the Bogibeel Bridge over River Brahmaputra was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon. The 4.9 kmlong railroad bridge (India’s longest and Asia’s 2nd longest) took 21 years to get ready.
The bridge was promised and conceptualized in 1985 during the Assam Accord. Foundation stone for the project was laid by then PM HD Devegowda way back in 1997. But, the work began only in 2002 during late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The project lost its stream after Vajpayee lost the polls in 2004.
When Modi Government took over in 2014, only 50% work was completed. As part of its North East Development plan, PM Modi made sure to expedite the work. Change in guard in Assam strengthened his hands further and the project finally became a reality. The initial cost of the project was Rs 3200 crore, but it was escalated to Rs 5,920 crore because of the delay and cost escalation owing to that.
The Bogibeel Bridge will reduce travel time between Assam’s Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts, bordering Arunachal Pradesh by 4 hours. It can also support movement of tanks and even fighter jet landings. The bridge will boost the socio-economic development of North East to a great extent.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also flagged off the first train on the Bogibeel Bridge in Dhemaji and addressed a public rally in Dibrugarh.
“About 16 years ago, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji came here. He had a vision for the development of the #BogibeelBridge. This Bridge is also a tribute to that vision of Atal Ji on his Birth Anniversary today. When Vajpayee Govt lost power in 2004, several key infrastructure projects of his era were not completed. This bridge also a victim of that political witch-hunt. But, we are happy that we made it possible with all our efforts in the last 4 and a half years,” said PM Modi.
“In the last 60-70 years, only three bridges were built over Brahmaputra. In last 4 and a half year, we initiated to construct 5 bridges. This is Good Governance,” said PM Modi while calling today as a ‘Historic Day’ for the North East region. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal was present while the PM addressed the gathering.