As the new bridge connecting the banks of the Brahmaputra approaches completion, travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati will be reduced to just one-sixth of what it currently takes over the old Saraighat Bridge. The PWD has finished more than 95% of the construction of the six-lane extradosed bridge that connects Guwahati and North Guwahati. An extradosed bridge uses a design that is often described as a cross between a cable-stayed bridge and a girder bridge.
According to a PWD source, the goal is to finish the final 5% of the work by the end of January. The bridge will be named in honour of Kamarupa King Kumar Bhaskar Varma, who lived in the seventh century, according to the state government. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that the traffic flow on the old route from the city via Maligaon and Saraighat bridge to North Guwahati will drastically decrease with the start of the Kumar Bhaskar Varma bridge, providing a solution to the traffic congestion.
Travel Time to Drop to 10–15 Minutes
According to the source, residents in North Guwahati will have better access to Guwahati since the capital city is only ten to fifteen minutes away. The trip from North Guwahati to Guwahati’s Fancy Bazar, one of the state’s largest commercial centres, takes about ninety minutes. This will benefit students studying in Guwahati, business people and govt officials posted here enormously. They won’t have to pay rent to remain here, travel, or endure traffic jams,” he continued. Due to the source, the new bridge would significantly increase trade between the north and south banks of the river since it will allow traders to go straight to the commercial centre of Fancy Bazar.
Toll Policy Announced by Chief Minister
In Nov last year, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said toll fees would be applicable exclusively for lorries and night super buses entering the city via the bridge to prevent unnecessary traffic congestion and potential road accidents within the city. However, he specified that city buses and private vehicle owners would be exempt from toll charges. SP Singla Constructions Private Limited, which constructed the Sultanganj-Aguwani bridge in Bihar, is constructing the Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge. The construction of the six-lane extradosed bridge commenced in Aug 2019, and is likely to open by Jan-Feb next year.
