Dhola–Sadiya Bridge
The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, officially known as Bhupen Hazarika Bridge, 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, connecting the village of Dhola in the south to the village of Sadiya to the north, both in Tinsukia district of Assam, and providing convenient access to Arunachal Pradesh, whose border lies a short distance from Sadiya. The bridge is the first permanent road connection between the northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh.
Dhola–Sadiya Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 27°47′55″N 95°40′34″E |
| Carries | Motor vehicles |
| Crosses | Lohit River |
| Locale | Dhola–Sadiya, Assam, India |
| Official name | Bhupen Hazarika Setu |
| Maintained by | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Beam bridge |
| Total length | 9.15 km (5.69 mi) |
| Width | 12.9 m (42 ft) |
| Longest span | 50 m (160 ft) |
| No. of spans | 183 |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Navayuga Engineering Company |
| Construction start | November 2011 |
| Construction end | 10 March 2017 |
| Opened | 26 May 2017 |
| Location | |
At 9.15 kilometres (5.69 mi) in length, it is the second longest bridge in India over water. However, the 9.76 kilometres (6.06 mi) Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur Bridge under construction in the Indian state of Bihar is expected to become the longest bridge in India upon its estimated completion in 2025.
With rapid movement of India's defense assets in mind following incursions by the Chinese Army, the Dhola–Sadiya Bridge has been designed to handle the weight of 60-tonne (130,000-pound) tanks such as the Indian Army's Arjun and T-72 main battle tanks. Since the Sino-Indian War, China has disputed India's claim to Arunachal Pradesh, politically and militarily, along the Line of Actual Control, making the bridge an important tactical asset in the ongoing dispute.