Kolia Bhumora bridge: Its history and Connectivity

The bridge is named after Kolia Bhomora Phukan, an important general of the Ahom dynasty. During King Kamaleswar Singha's reign in the early 19th century, General Kolia Bhomora Phukan envisioned building a bridge across the Brahmaputra River at Bhomoraguri, near Tezpur.

He started the job by picking a location and acquiring construction materials. However, due to his unexpected death, the project was abandoned. Remnants of his efforts, such as the Bhomoraguri rock inscription, can still be found today.

It was inaugurated in 1987 by Rajiv Gandhi, the then-Prime Minister of India, after construction was completed between 1981 and 1987. On April 14, 1987, India Post released an INR2 commemorative stamp of this. In 1988, the American Concrete Institute awarded Hindustan Construction Company the Certificate of Merit for the Most Outstanding Concrete Structure.

The Kolia Bhomora Setu has significantly enhanced connectivity in Assam, allowing for travel, trade, and tourism between the northern and southern banks of the Brahmaputra River. It has contributed significantly to the region's socioeconomic development. Toll collection on the bridge was suspended in 2016 due to public concerns, as the building cost fell below the ₹100 crore tollable ceiling.

The new Kolia Bhomora Bridge, also known as the Bhomoraguri-Tezpur Bridge, is a long and strong bridge that spans the Brahmaputra River in Assam, adjacent to the old Kolia Bhomora Setu. It was completed in 2021 at a cost of approximately ₹588.95 crore and measures 3.04 kilometers. The bridge connects Tezpur on the north side and Kaliabor on the south side, and it was created to manage increasing traffic since the former bridge, which opened in 1987, was deteriorating and needed to be repaired. The new bridge was built by Gammon India and S.P. Singla Constructions, and it is part of a bigger road project to increase transport in the region. It also features smaller bridges and culverts to improve the overall safety and efficiency of the route.

The new Kolia Bhomora Bridge, which honors Kolia Bhomora Phukan, a brave general from the Ahom dynasty who had the idea to build a bridge here hundreds of years ago, is a symbol of Assam's growth and a strong link between its past and future. It also facilitates travel, trade, and transportation, as well as the army and emergency services.