Mahabahu-Brahmaputra

In news : Recently, the Prime Minister launched  ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ and laid the foundation stone of two bridges in Assam( Dhubri Phulbari Bridge & Majuli Bridge )

Key updates

• The launch of Mahabahu-Brahmaputra was marked by the inauguration of the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati-Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari 
• The programme also includes shilanyas for construction of tourist jetties at four locations, namely, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat, Pandu and Jogighopa with the financial assistance of Rs. 9.41 crores from the Ministry of Tourism. 
• A permanent Inland Water Transport Terminal will also be built at Jogighopa under the program, which will connect with the Multi-Modal Logistics Park also coming up at Jogighopa. 
  • This Terminal will help in reducing the traffic on the Siliguri Corridor towards Kolkata and Haldia. 
  • It will also facilitate the uninterrupted movement of cargo even during flood season to various North-Eastern States like Meghalaya and Tripura and to Bhutan and Bangladesh as well.

Ro-pax service

• Prime Minister said that the three Ro-Pax services which were launched recently makes Assam a front-runner state to be connected with Ro-Pax services at this scale.
• He added Ro-pax service between Majuli and Nemati is one such route which would reduce the distance from about 425 km to just 12 km.
• Two indigenously procured Ro-Pax vessels, namely, M.V. Rani Gaidinliu and M.V. Sachin Dev Burman, shall become operational. 
• Introduction of Ro-Pax vessel M.V. J.F.R. Jacob between North and South Guwahati will reduce travelling distance of around 40 Km to a mere 3 Km. 
• Introduction of M.V. Bob Khathing between Dhubri and Hatsingimari will reduce travelling distance of 220 Km to 28 Km, thus resulting in a huge saving of travel distance and time.

Dhubri Phulbari Bridge

• The Prime Ministerlaid the foundation stone for the four lane bridge over the Brahmaputra between Dhubri (on North Bank) and Phulbari (on South Bank). 
• The proposed Bridge will be located on NH-127B, originating from Srirampur on NH-27 (East-West Corridor), and terminating at Nongstoin on NH-106 in the State of Meghalaya. 
• It will connect Dhubri in Assam to  Phulbari, Tura, Rongram and Rongjeng in Meghalaya.
• It will reduce the distance of 205 Km to be travelled by Road to 19 Km, which is the total length of the bridge.

Majuli Bridge

• It is the two-lane Bridge on the Brahmaputra between Majuli (North Bank) and Jorhat (South Bank).
• The bridge will be located on NH-715K and will connect Nimatighat (on Jorhat side) and Kamalabari (on Majuli side).

Various projects mentioned/launched by the Prime Minister

• He laid the foundation stone of Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal at Jogighopa and various tourist jetties on River Brahmaputra and launched digital solutions for Ease-of-Doing-Business.
• Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu: The Dhola–Sadiya Bridge, also referred to as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, is a beam bridge in India, connecting the northeast states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge spans the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River, from the village of Dhola in the south to Sadiya to the north.
• Bogibeel Bridge: Bogibeel bridge is a combined road and rail bridge over the Brahmaputra River in the northeastern Indian state of Assam between Dhemaji district and Dibrugarh district
• Saraighat Bridge: The Saraighat Bridge is a rail-cum-road bridge over Brahmaputra River in Assam and is the first of its kind bridge over the river.