Assam: Old Saraighat Bridge over Brahmaputra to remain shut for two months

Guwahati, July 7 (IANS) The Kamrup (Metro) district administration in Assam on Tuesday announced that the old Saraighat Bridge over the Brahmaputra will remain closed to heavy vehicles from July 16 to September 15 to facilitate maintenance and strengthening work on the six-decade-old structure, officials said.

Kamrup (Metro) District Commissioner Sumit Sattawan said the decision was taken following recommendations from technical experts overseeing the repair of the historic rail-cum-road bridge, to ensure public safety and expedite the restoration work.

Under the revised traffic arrangement, trucks, multi-axle vehicles and other heavy commercial vehicles will not be allowed to use the old bridge during the two months. However, light motor vehicles, passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and emergency service vehicles will continue to ply on the bridge as per the existing traffic regulations.

The administration has advised transporters and commercial vehicle operators to use the new Saraighat Bridge for crossing the Brahmaputra while the restrictions remain in force. Traffic police and other departments have been instructed to ensure smooth vehicular movement and minimise congestion on the alternate route.

The old Saraighat Bridge, commissioned in 1962, holds immense historical significance as India's first rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra. For more than five decades, it served as the principal road link connecting Guwahati with North Assam and the rest of the Northeast, playing a crucial role in the region's economic and social development.

However, with growing traffic volume and the ageing of the structure, authorities have been carrying out periodic maintenance and strengthening works to enhance its operational life and ensure commuter safety.

The four-lane new Saraighat Bridge, inaugurated in 2017 adjacent to the old bridge, was constructed to decongest traffic and provide a modern alternative for vehicles crossing the Brahmaputra. Since its commissioning, heavy commercial traffic has frequently been diverted to the new bridge whenever repair work is undertaken on the older structure.

Officials said the latest maintenance exercise is part of the government's ongoing efforts to preserve the iconic bridge while ensuring uninterrupted connectivity between the two banks of the Brahmaputra.