PM inaugurates Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over Brahmaputra River

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a series of key infrastructure projects in Assam, including the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over the Brahmaputra River and the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility on a national highway in Dibrugarh district.

Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu Opens to Public

The Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu is a 2.86-km-long, six-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete bridge built at an estimated cost of ₹3,030 crore. It connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and is the first extradosed bridge in Northeast India.

The bridge is expected to reduce travel time between the two sides of the city to about seven minutes, significantly improving connectivity and easing congestion.

Advanced Engineering Features

Designed considering the region’s high seismic activity, the bridge incorporates advanced base isolation technology using friction pendulum bearings. High-performance stay cables have been used to ensure durability and structural stability.

A Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) has also been installed to provide real-time condition monitoring, early detection of structural issues and enhanced safety throughout the bridge’s lifespan.

Boost to Regional Connectivity

Alongside the bridge, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a national highway in Dibrugarh district, strengthening both civil and defence infrastructure in the region.