Page 24 - Construction Vision Sep-Oct 2017 issue

Tributary of River Brahmaputra

The new, three lane, 9.15 kilometre Dhola-Sadiya bridge has been built over
river Lohit, a tributary of River Brahmaputra, and links Dhola in Assam to
Sadiya in Arunachal Pradesh.

To bring Assam and Arunachal closer

Earlier, the only means to cross the Brahmaputra at this location was by ferry
in the daytime, and even this was not possible during floods. The Dhola-
Sadiya bridge will ensure 24X7 connectivity between upper Assam and the
eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh.

The bridge will also reduce the distance from Rupai on NH-37 in Assam to
Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh by 165 KM, cutting down on
travel time from the current six hours to just one hour. This, the government
claims, will result in saving of petrol and diesel worth Rs 10 lakh per day.

Features of the bridge

Given the fact that the North East is prone to high seismic activity, the bridge
has been provided seismic buffers in all its 182 piers.

The total length of the Dhola-Sadiya bridge project, including the approach
roads on each side, is 28.50 km. The length of the bridge itself is 9.15 km.

Cost of the bridge

Constructed at a total cost of Rs 2,056 crore, the bridge is part of the
Arunachal Package of Roads and Highways under the Ministry's Special
Accelerated Road Develoopment Programme for North East.

Socio-economic development

The Dhola-Sadiya bridge promises to provide efficient road connectivity to
remote and backward areas which have poor road infrastructure, which will
give a major boost to overall economic development of the areas north of the
Brahmaputra in upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
‘‘ Bridge,, 9.15 coming up in the state, as it is the most sought-after route for various power
The government said it will also facilitate numerous hydro power projects

project developers.
Dhola Sadiya Bridge

The bridge will benefit army also
India’s Longest
KM
The bridge will also benefit the army, with convoys requiring less time to
journey from Assam to the posts along the India-China border in Arunachal
Pradesh. The bridge is also expected to enhance India's defence capabilities
in the northeastern region.