The construction of the second Saraighat rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati is set to accelerate, with the contract awarded to L&T (Larsen & Toubro). Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, stated that the existing Saraighat Bridge, commissioned in 1962, has connected the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra for over six decades. However, the increasing demand for passenger and freight transport has necessitated additional infrastructure. While the new bridge adjacent to it is strictly a road bridge, the upcoming rail-cum-road bridge, being built at a cost of ₹1473.77 crore, will connect the 7.2 km railway line from Agthori to Kamakhya.
Additionally, a double-decker bridge approximately 1.3 km long will be constructed. The lower deck will feature two railway tracks, while the upper deck will consist of a three-lane roadway and a footpath. The new bridge will utilize advanced engineering technology, including digital monitoring and modern surveillance systems. Piling work is scheduled to begin this October, with the project expected to be completed by December 2029.
