Ajay Kumar at 18:18, 24 August 2023

2023-08-24T18:18:06Z

New page

{{Short description|River bridge in Assam, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name = Bogibeel Bridge
|native_name = বগীবিল দলং
|native_name_lang = en
|image = Bogibeel_Bridge_view.jpg
|image_size=320|alt =
|caption =
|official_name =
|other_name =
|crosses = [[Brahmaputra River]]
|locale = [[Assam]], [[India]]
|carries = [[File:NH15-IN.svg|20px|link=|alt=C2]] [[National Highway 15 (India)|NH 15]]
|maint =
|architect =
|designer = [[Rail India Technical and Economic Service|RITES]]
|engineering =
|design = [[Truss bridge]]
|material = [[Steel]], [[Concrete]]
|length = {{convert|4.94|km}}
|width =
|height =
|mainspan = {{convert|125|m|abbr=on}}
|spans = 41
|pierswater =
|load =
|clearance =
|below =
|life =
|builder = [[Hindustan Construction Company]] (HCC) and [[Gammon India]]
|begin = 21 April 2002
|complete =
|opened = 25 December 2018
|toll =
|traffic =
|preceded =
|followed =
|heritage =
|collapsed =
|closed =
|replaces =
|coordinates = {{coord|27|24|31|N|94|45|37|E|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|extra =
}}

The '''Bogibeel Bridge''' is a combined road and rail bridge over the [[Brahmaputra River]] in the [[Northeast India|northeastern Indian]] state of [[Assam]] between [[Dhemaji district]] and [[Dibrugarh district]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Bogibeel Rail-Cum-Road Bridge Project Targeted for Completion by March 2018|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=107472|access-date=25 July 2014|agency=Press Information Bureau|publisher=Government of India|date=25 July 2014}}</ref> which was started in the year 2002 and took a total of 200 months to complete, Bogibeel river bridge is the [[List of longest bridges above water in India|longest rail-cum-road bridge in India]], measuring 4.94 kilometres over the Brahmaputra river.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-longest-road-rail-bridge-to-be-inaugurated-by-pm-modi-this-year/articleshow/64100390.cms|title=India's longest road-rail bridge to be inaugurated by PM Modi this year|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> As it is situated in an earthquake-prone area it is India's first bridge to have fully welded steel-concrete support beams that can withstand earthquakes of magnitudes up to 7 on the [[Richter scale]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-inaugurates-indias-longest-rail-road-bridge-in-assam/articleshow/67242194.cms|title=PM Modi inaugurates India's longest rail-road bridge in Assam|newspaper=The Times of India|date=26 December 2018|access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref> It is Asia's second longest rail-cum-road bridge and has a serviceable period of around 120 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/N677hsFyQ81hYDZ4t2KboN/Bogibeel-Indias-longest-railroad-bridge-has-lifespan-of-a.html|title=Bogibeel: India's longest rail-road bridge has lifespan of around 120 years|date=23 December 2018}}</ref>

It is the 5th longest bridge in India after [[Bhupen Hazarika Setu]], [[Dibang River Bridge]], [[Mahatma Gandhi Setu]] and [[Bandra–Worli Sea Link]]. The bridge was constructed by a consortium of construction companies headed by [[Hindustan Construction Company]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/construction/bogibeel-bridges-girder-cost-may-escalate-by-rs-300-crore-hcc/articleshow/48411973.cms|title=Bogibeel bridge's girder cost may escalate by Rs 300 crore: HCC|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> The bridge has a double rail line on the lower deck and a three lane road on the upper deck. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] on 25 December 2018 on the occasion of [[Good Governance Day]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assams-bogibeel-bridge-to-be-inaugurated-by-prime-minister-narendra-modi-live-updates-1967736|title = After Opening India's Longest Railroad Bridge, PM Flags off Tinsukia-Naharlagun Express Train: Highlights}}</ref>

== Location ==
The Bogibeel Bridge, situated 17 km downstream of [[Dibrugarh]] and [[Dhemaji]], spans the Brahmaputra River and will connect the town of Dibrugarh in the south to [[Dhemaji]] to the river's north.<ref name="railway-technology">{{cite web|title=Bogibeel Rail Bridge, India|url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/bogibeel-rail-bridge/|access-date=26 May 2013}}</ref> The bridge is located just over 20 km away from the Assam- [[Arunachal Pradesh]] border and acts as an alternative to the [[Kolia Bhomora Setu]], Tezpur in providing connectivity to nearly five million people residing in [[Upper Assam]] and Arunachal Pradesh.<ref name="indianexpress">{{cite news|title=A long wait for longest bridge in country|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-long-wait-for-longest-bridge-in-country/945859/0|access-date=26 May 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=6 May 2012}}</ref><ref name="zeenews.india">{{cite news|title=Strategic Brahmaputra bridge to be ready by 2015?|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/north-east/strategic-brahmaputra-bridge-to-be-ready-by-2015_771755.html|access-date=26 May 2013|newspaper=Zee News|date=26 April 2012}}</ref>

The Bogibeel Bridge is the longest rail-cum-road bridge of India on the [[Brahmaputra River]] in Assam. Owing to its location, the bridge is of strategic importance to India as it significantly eases India's ability to transport troops and supplies to the [[McMahon Line|border with Tibet]] in Arunachal Pradesh.<ref name="zeenews.india" /> Being located in an area of intense rainfall, its construction had been significantly slowed down by the fact that construction largely took place only during a period of four dry months between November and March.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wet season major constraint for India's longest rail-cum-road bridge|url=http://www.infrawindow.com/news/wet-season-major-constraint-for-india-s-longest-rail-cum-road-bridge_2765/|access-date=26 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123181106/http://www.infrawindow.com/news/wet-season-major-constraint-for-india-s-longest-rail-cum-road-bridge_2765/|archive-date=23 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Road connectivity==
The bridge connects [[Dhemaji district]] and [[Dibrugarh district]] in Assam through [[National Highway 15 (India)|National Highway 15]].

== Rail connectivity ==
The Bogibeel Bridge provides a connection between the [[Rangiya–Murkongselek section]] of the [[Northeast Frontier Railway]], located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, and the [[Lumding–Dibrugarh section]] that lies to the southern bank.<ref name="indianexpress" /> A New Dibrugarh Railway Station, expected to be the largest in the region, has been proposed and is to be linked to the Rangiya–Murkongselek line via Chaulkhowa and [[Moranhat]]. The Railways have initiated the gauge conversion of the Dhamalgaon to Sisiborgaon rail line to the north of the bridge and commissioned the 44 km Chalkhowa–Moranhat line to the south.<ref name="zeenews.india" />

== History ==
The bridge traces its origins to the [[Assam Accord]] of 1985 and was one of several major infrastructural projects to be set up in Assam in accordance with the pact.<ref>{{cite journal|title='Assam Accord still vital'|journal=Frontline|date=14–27 August 2010|volume=27|issue=17|url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2717/stories/20100827271704400.htm|access-date=26 May 2013}}</ref> It was sanctioned by the Government of India in 1997-98 and was expected to be completed by the end of the Ninth Five Year Plan.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Note of conciliation|journal=Frontline|date=4–17 December 2004|volume=21|issue=25|url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2125/stories/20041217008000600.htm|access-date=26 May 2013}}</ref> The foundation of the bridge was laid in January 1997 by Prime Minister [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], but its construction was inaugurated only in 2002 by [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]], [[A. B. Vajpayee]]. Thereafter, North East Frontier Railway took up this work in right earnest and posted '''Sri Pramod Kumar Gupta''' as Deputy Chief Engineer (Construction) for construction of Bogibeel Bridge. M/s RITES was awarded the Design and Consultancy work. Model Studies were done by UPIRI near Roorkee. A Global Expression of Interest was invited (Global EOI was invited for the first time in India) for the work. Many Chinese, Korean and European companies participated. DSD Steel of Germany was shortlisted for construction of Superstructure Work, as no Indian company had any experience of proposed type of superstructure. By 2004 the preliminary design and shortlisting of agencies was completed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Even after a decade, Bogibeel bridge waits to see light of the day|url=http://www.sentinelassam.com/state1/story.php?sec=2&subsec=2&id=114642&dtP=2012-12-01&ppr=1|access-date=26 May 2013|newspaper=The Sentinel|date=22 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235710/http://www.sentinelassam.com/state1/story.php?sec=2&subsec=2&id=114642&dtP=2012-12-01&ppr=1|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The project was to be completed in six years following the inauguration, however the work did not begin even in 2007, owing to lack of funds and attention. Consequently, that same year, the Bogibeel Bridge was granted a national project status by the Government of India in 2007 by Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], but the implementation was slow, notwithstanding a Congress government in Assam.<ref name="indianexpress" /><ref name="Bogibeel bridge in Upper Assam nears completion">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/after-15-years-bogibeel-bridge-in-upper-assam-nears-completion/article9539789.ece |title=After 15 years, Bogibeel bridge in Upper Assam nears completion |last=Bose |first=Pratim Ranjan |access-date=12 January 2018 |publisher=The Hindu Business Line |publication-date=12 January 2018}}</ref> Accordingly, the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Union Ministry of Finance]] funded 75% of the project costs while the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]] financed the rest.<ref name="indianexpress" /> The actual work on the project only began in 2011.<ref name="India's longest bridge has long list of controversies">{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bogibeel-bridge-pm-modi-inaugurate-india-largest-bridge-name-controversy-atal-bihari-vajpayee-bday-1416185-2018-12-24 |title=Bogibeel: India's longest bridge has long list of controversies |access-date=27 December 2018 |work=India Today |publication-date=24 December 2018}}</ref>

In April 2008, the Northeast Frontier Railway contracted [[Gammon India]] to construct the sub-structure of the bridge while a consortium of [[Hindustan Construction Company]], DSD Brückenbau GmbH, Germany and VNR Infrastructures won the bid to build the superstructure.<ref>{{cite news|title=HCC, associates bag Rs 987-cr railway order|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/hcc-associates-bag-rs-987cr-railway-order/article2656574.ece|access-date=26 May 2013|newspaper=The Hindu Businessline|date=24 November 2011}}</ref>

The bridge's construction was subject to large time and cost overruns over time. The cost, initially estimated at {{INRConvert|1767|c|lk=on}}, escalated to {{INRConvert|4996|c|lk=on}} by 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bogibeel Rail-Cum-Road Bridge Project Targeted for Completion by March 2017|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=107472|access-date=25 July 2014|agency=Press Information Bureau|publisher=Government of India|date=25 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Railways battle to complete strategic Brahmaputra bridge by 2015|url=http://india.nydailynews.com/business/8cdebdfcb7edd11dfd3e2dbd42ea957d/railways-battle-to-complete-strategic-brahmaputra-bridge-by-2015|access-date=26 May 2013|newspaper=Daily News|date=25 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630010810/http://india.nydailynews.com/business/8cdebdfcb7edd11dfd3e2dbd42ea957d/railways-battle-to-complete-strategic-brahmaputra-bridge-by-2015|archive-date=30 June 2013}}</ref> According to a press release by the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Indian Ministry of Railway]] on 25 July 2014, in the main bridge 36 out of 42 well foundations and 28 out of 40 piers had been completed, while 2 out of 41 girders had been launched. An expenditure of {{INRConvert|3041|c|lk=on}} was incurred on the project till March 2014, and a further outlay of {{INRConvert|600|c|lk=on}} was sanctioned for the year 2014–2015, with the project then-expected to be completed by March 2017.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Bogibeel Rail-Cum-Road Bridge Project Targeted for Completion by March 2017|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=107472|access-date=25 July 2014|newspaper=PIB|date=25 July 2014}}</ref> However, a correspondent writing in ''[[The Hindu Business Line]]'' claimed that when he visited the project in July 2014, only 15 out of the 42 piers were "coming up", while the work on the rest had barely begun.<ref name="Bogibeel bridge in Upper Assam nears completion" />

On 2 December 2018, the bridge opened as the first freight train crossed it.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 January 2019|access-date=2020-04-21|title='Engineering masterpiece' Bogibeel Bridge opens|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/asia/engineering-masterpiece-bogibeel-bridge-opens/47837.article|website=[[Railway Gazette International]]}}</ref> On 25 December, the Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] inaugurated the Bogibeel bridge, on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], and also flag off an intercity express connecting [[Tinsukia]] and [[Naharlagun]]. The overall cost of the project ultimately escalated to {{INRConvert|5960|c|lk=on}} as the total length of the bridge increased from {{convert|4.31|km}} to {{convert|4.94|km}}.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bogibeel-pm-modi-inaugurates-indias-longest-railroad-bridge-in-assam/articleshow/67241748.cms |title=Bogibeel: PM Modi inaugurates India's longest railroad bridge in Assam |access-date=27 December 2018 |publisher=The Economic Times |publication-date=25 December 2018}}</ref>

== Structure ==
The design of the bridge has 41 spans of 125 m and a superstructure of composite welded [[steel truss]] and [[reinforced concrete]]. It is designed to be able to carry a double line {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad-gauge railway]] on the lower deck and a 3-lane road on the upper deck. Owing to its strategic importance, it was also built with supporting the movement of tanks and aircraft in mind. It is the longest combined rail and road bridge in India and second longest bridge in Assam over the [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra]], after [[Bhupen Hazarika Setu]] at 9.15 km.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dhola-sadiya-bridge-10-things-to-know/article18582536.ece| title = Dhola-Sadiya Bridge: 10 things to know - The Hindu| website = [[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes">{{cite news|title=Bogibeel Bridge project marks 10 years with slow work progress|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-21/guwahati/31378487_1_mega-project-dibrugarh-senior-railway-official|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203062508/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-21/guwahati/31378487_1_mega-project-dibrugarh-senior-railway-official|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|access-date=26 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=21 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="railway-technology" />

==See also==
* [[List of bridges on Brahmaputra River]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Railway bridges in India]]
[[Category:Bridges in Assam]]
[[Category:Bridges over the Brahmaputra River]]
[[Category:Transport in Dibrugarh]]
[[Category:Road bridges in India]]
[[Category:Road-rail bridges in India]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 2018]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in Assam]]
[[Category:Dibrugarh district]]

Bogibeel Bridge - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 18:18, 24 August 2023