India’s longest bridge to remain closed for two days for safety audit

The 9.15-km-long Bhupen Hazarika Setu over Lohit, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, in Assam was inaugurated on May 26 this year.

Updated on: Dec 12, 2017, 14:49:10 IST

Guwahati, Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar

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The Bhupen Hazarika Setu, India’s longest bridge, will remained closed for two days this week for a safety audit, seven months after it was thrown open to the public.

The bridge, which allows for quick movement of troops to the frontier, is considered one of the country’s most strategic on the border with China. (PIB)

The 9.15-km-long bridge over Lohit, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, was inaugurated on May 26 this year.

“The bridge will remain closed for all vehicular traffic on December 13 and December 14 while a private firm authorised by the Union road transport and highways ministry conducts tests,” Biswajit Phukan, sub-divisional officer of Sadiya in Assam, said.

The bridge, which allows for quick movement of troops to the frontier, is considered one of the country’s most strategic on the border with China.

Since its inauguration, the Bhupen Hazarika Setu has become a major tourist attraction, with people thronging the area.

“We have taken alternative measures to connect both banks through the Kakopathar-Dirak-Tezu raod while the bridge remains closed. Ferry service has also been resumed as an emergency step,” said Phukan.

The test to be carried out by TPF Engineering Private Limited, a Mumbai-based engineering solutions provider, will take a look at all aspects of the structure, including a quality assurance test.

“Some tests that are conducted routinely need only partial closure of the bridge. But the one that will be done at Bhupen Hazarika Setu will require a complete halt to vehicular movement,” informed Prasanta Bhattacharya, team leader with TPF Engineering.

While officials term the test routine, locals have raised questions about the quality of the bridge.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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