Saraighat

Constructed over river Brahmaputra in Guwahati, the Saraighat Bridge in Assam is the first rail cum Road Bridge. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India inaugurated the Saraighat Bridge in April 1962. This bridge with a total length of more than 3kms serves as one of the most important elements of Northern Frontier Railways.

In 1958, the Saraighat Bridge’s construction began in January 1958 and was opened for traffic of goods in October of 1962 whereas the inauguration of general public was done in the next year. Another road bridge parallel to the Saraighat with three lanes is under construction.

The World Class Saraighat Bridge serves as an important element of connection between the north eastern parts with the rest of the nation. The Saraighat recently completed 50 years of its glorious existence and after constant inspections by the experts in the Indian Institute of Technology have asserted that this bridge is still fit for traffic to pass over it. British India had planned to create a bridge over the Brahmaputra in the 1910. This was further raised during the Second World War. Amnigaon and Bongaigaon were devastated in a huge flood in 42 – 43 which made the government reconsider the strength of the railway line there. Soon, independent India and its parliament passed the bridge which began in the year 1958.

Historians have also asserted that the bridge at Saraighat served as the vital role of connect that provided food, arms and ammunition to the Indian Soldiers who were braving the bullets of the Chinese Army during the Indo Sino War.

Geography

Saraighat is a small town on the outskirts of Guwahati, the capital of Assam. Saraighat is an important historical site in the state of Assam. Saraighat was the place where a battle took place between the ruling Ahom dynasty and the Mughals. Saraighat was also identified as the place where the railway station of Amnigaon stood after it was abandoned following a devastating flood in the year 1942 – 1943.

The place serves as an important element in the politics of the north east as it served as the earliest point of contact between Mainland of India and the North East Regions.

Districts near the Brahmaputra are naturally humid due to the presence of the river and the Saraighat is no different.

Description of the Bridge

With a total expenditure of more than 10 crores at that time, the Saraighat Bridge is one of the most technologically advanced bridges of the country and bears a total of 4258 feet of length. The depth of the road is as much as 24 feet which has a wide 6 feet footpath on either side of the road. The earthquake resistant bridge can bear an earthquake of G 10. The bridge also has a double broad gauge railway line that serves the North Eastern Part of India.

Sources at various places have revealed that the Saraighat Bridge on Brahmaputra boasts of 12 spans with more than 14000 tonnes of steel. Apart from this, the bridge construction elements also have concrete worth 4.2 cubic feet, 40,000 tons of cement. Moreover, almost 100 million cubic feet of earthwork was used as an element of construction in the bridge. Brahmaputra is known for its unpredictable nature which made the construction difficult. To avoid any further disturbances by the river, the engineers have kept a clearance of 40 feet from the highest predictable point of the river.

In the year 2012, after 50 years of the existence of this bridge, Indian Institute of Technology conducted several tests on the Saraighat Bridge. After careful examination, Indian Institute of Technology has asserted that all the spans and pillars of the bridge are in a perfect shape to continue serving the north eastern part of India.

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