Maligaon, Dec26: The Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi dedicated the longest Rail-cum-Road Bridge of the country over river Brahmaputra at Bogibeel to the nation at a public meeting which witnessed a huge gathering of enthusiastic people on the Christmas Day.
He also flagged off the first passenger train over the bridge. Governor of Assam Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, PWD and Health Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain, Members of Parliament Rameswar Teli and Pradan Barua, MLA Bhuban Pegu alongwith several other dignitaries were present.
A sea of people from upper Assam areas including Dhemaji, Jonai, North Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh attended the meeting. N.F. Rly has arranged four special trains for the people for attending the inauguration meeting that was inaugurated by the prime minister himself.
In his speech, Prime Minister said that this new bridge will user a new atmosphere of economic development in the entire region of Assam and Arunachal apart bringing people more closer to each other. The problem faced in availing medical and other facilities by the people of north bank will now become a thing of past.
It would be possible to travel to other parts of the country without touching Guwahati, he said. The Prime Minister said that moto of the present government is Transformation through Transportation, which would help to remove the transportation bottleneck in the northeast.
Along with Assam the development of the entire Northeast is getting the required thrust. Prime minister said that the bridge is being dedicated on a very historical day, as today is birth anniversary of Late Prime Minister Sri Atal Vihari Vajpayee which is also observed as the Good Governance Day. He said the current governments; both at Centre and the State are laying emphasis on timely completion of all pending projects.
Earlier Minister of State of Railways, Rajen Gohain welcomed the Prime Minister. In his speech, Rajen Gohain mentioned about various activities being undertaken for improving connectivity in NE region.
He also mentioned that all left out state capitals of NE region are likely to be connected by broad gauge railways by 2020. Rail connectivity with Bangladesh through Akhaura in Tripura border is likely to be started by 2019 and connectivity with Myanmar through Mizoram would be established soon.
The Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh also thanked Prime Minister for showing special interest and taking initiatives for development of the region for overall upliftment of the people. They hoped that this bridge will help in making the bond between people of the two states stronger.
The Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge is the longest Rail-cum-Road as well as Railway Bridge in India having total length of 4.94 km (revised from 4.31 km). The new bridge provides direct rail and road connectivity between Dibrugarh (Assam) and Naharlagun of Arunachal Pradesh, thereby providing the major push for improving the connectivity in northeast. This new bridge has reduced the travel distance by 705 kms.
