All About Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu – Assam’s Engineering Pride

The Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu, also known as the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, is a beam bridge in India that connects the northeast states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge connects the village of Dhola (Tinsukia District) in the south to Sadiya in the north via the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra. The bridge is the first permanent road connecting northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

In August 2003, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways launched a feasibility study for the project in response to local residents' demands. The bridge was approved for building in January 2009, with money from the Indian government as part of the Arunachal Pradesh Roads and Highways Package. Construction began in November 2011 as a public-private collaboration with the Navayuga Engineering Company and is projected to be completed in 2015. However, due to construction delays and cost increases, the bridge's completion date has been postponed to 2017.

The project cost approximately ₹1,000 crore (equivalent to ₹12 billion or US$156 million in 2020) and took over five years to finish. It is 3.55 kilometers (2.21 miles) longer than Mumbai's Bandra-Worli Sea Link, making it India's longest bridge. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Road Transport & Highways) opened the bridge on May 26, 2017. The bridge is named after Bhupen Hazarika, an Assamese artist and filmmaker.

How did it get the name? The bridge connects the villages of Dhola and Sadiya in Tinsukia district in Assam. From Sadiya, Arunachal state border is just a stone’s throw away. The bridge is also the first permanent road connecting north Assam and east Arunachal Pradesh

The bridge gives comfortable access to many places in Arunachal Pradesh, including Anjaw, Changlang, Dibang Valley, East Kameng, and East Siang to name a few.

Dhola Sadiya Bridge is 3.55 km longer than Mumbai’s Bandra Worli Sea Link. The views en route are some of the best views you will ever see in the northeast if not in India. The bridge runs a smooth curve, giving picture perfect views of the Lohit River and the rest of the river valley down below. Guwahati is approximately 544 km from Dhola Sadiya Bridge via NH-715, making it a great route for a long road trip.

Since its inception in 2017, it has cut travel time between the two states by approximately four hours, significantly enhancing access to healthcare, education, markets, and local trade. The bridge is strategically important in India's defense infrastructure because it allows for the speedy transportation of large military vehicles and equipment to sensitive India-China border areas in Arunachal Pradesh. Engineered to resist the region's high seismic activity, the bridge is not only an outstanding achievement of modern engineering, but it also represents improved connection, security, and economic development in Northeast India.