Bridging Distances: A Journey from Atal Setu to Mahatma Gandhi Setu – India’s Longest Bridges

India is a country of diversity, not only in terms of culture, religion and language, but also in terms of geography. The vast landmass of India is crisscrossed by many rivers, some of which are among the longest and largest in the world. To connect the different regions of the country, bridges play a vital role in facilitating transportation, trade and tourism. In this article, we will explore four of the most remarkable bridges in India: the Atal Setu, the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the Dhola Sadiya Bridge and the Dibang River Bridge.

Atal Setu: India’s Longest Sea Bridge

The Atal Setu, also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), is a 21.8-kilometre-long sea bridge that connects South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai. It is the longest sea bridge in India and the second-longest in Asia. The bridge was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, 2024, and named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The bridge has been constructed at a cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore and features a six-lane road with around 16.5 km over the sea and about 5.5 km on land. The bridge aims to enhance connectivity to both Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, reducing travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India. Additionally, it will improve connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

The bridge is a marvel of engineering and design, with four cable-stayed spans ranging from 250 to 550 metres in length. The bridge has 134 piers, 16 viaducts and four interchanges. The bridge can withstand wind speeds of up to 200 kmph and seismic forces of up to 7.5 on the Richter scale. The bridge also has advanced safety features such as CCTV cameras, emergency call boxes, fire hydrants, crash barriers and lighting systems.

The bridge is expected to benefit more than 8,000 vehicles daily on its opening day and reduce vehicular pollution and congestion in Mumbai. The bridge will also boost the development of Navi Mumbai as a smart city and a hub for IT, education and healthcare sectors. The bridge will also open up new opportunities for tourism, recreation and leisure activities along the coastal areas of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Mahatma Gandhi Setu: India’s Third-Longest River Bridge

The Mahatma Gandhi Setu, also known as Gandhi Setu or Ganga Setu, is a bridge over the river Ganges in Bihar, connecting Patna in the south to Hajipur in the north. Its length is 5,750 metres (18,860 ft) and it is the third-longest river bridge in India. It was inaugurated in May 1982 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and named after Mahatma Gandhi – the father of the nation.

The bridge was approved by the Central Government in 1969 and built by Gammon India Limited over a period of ten years, from 1972 to 1982. The total expenditure was Rs 87.22 crore (872.2 million rupees). It was built to connect North Bihar with the rest of Bihar through the state’s capital at Patna, and as part of national highway 19 (NH19). Before this bridge was constructed, the only bridge crossing of the Ganges in Bihar was Rajendra Setu, approximately 85 kilometres (53 mi) to the east, which had opened in 1959.

The bridge has a two-lane roadway with footpaths on either side. The bridge consists of 45 intermediate spans of 121.065 metres (397.19 ft) each and a span of 65.530 metres (214.99 ft) at each end. The deck provides for a 7.5-metre-wide (25 ft) two-lane roadway for IRC class 70 R loading with footpaths on either side. The cantilever segmental construction method was adopted; each span has two cantilever beams on both sides which are free to move at the ends.

The bridge is used by more than one lakh vehicles daily and offers a magnificent view of the Ganges River. The Indian postal department issued a commemorative postage stamp, “Landmark Bridges Of India: Mahatma Gandhi Setu”, on 17 August 2007.

The bridge underwent a major rehabilitation project from 2016 to 2020, which involved the installation of triangular steel trusses on the bridge to replace the damaged concrete girders. The project was executed by Afcons Infrastructure Limited at a cost of Rs 1,742 crore. The renovated bridge was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 31, 2020.

Dhola Sadiya Bridge: India’s Longest Road Bridge

The Dhola Sadiya Bridge, also known as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu or the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, is a road bridge that spans over the Lohit River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Assam. It is the longest road bridge in India, with a length of 9.15 kilometres (5.69 mi). The bridge was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26, 2017, and named after Bhupen Hazarika, a legendary singer and composer from Assam.

The bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 2,056 crore and features a three-lane road with a width of 13.5 metres (44 ft). The bridge aims to enhance connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, reducing travel time from Dhola to Sadiya from six hours to just one hour. Additionally, it will improve connectivity to the border areas of China and Myanmar, and boost the defence and strategic interests of the country.

The bridge is a marvel of engineering and design, with 182 piers and seven extra-dosed spans ranging from 110 to 180 metres in length. The bridge can withstand wind speeds of up to 180 kmph and seismic forces of up to 8 on the Richter scale. The bridge also has advanced safety features such as CCTV cameras, emergency call boxes, fire hydrants, crash barriers and lighting systems.

The bridge is expected to benefit more than 2 lakh commuters daily and reduce vehicular pollution and congestion in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge will also boost the development of the region as a hub for agriculture, tourism and hydro-power sectors. The bridge will also open up new opportunities for trade, commerce and cultural exchange between the two states.

Dibang River Bridge: India’s Second-Longest Road Bridge

The Dibang River Bridge, also known as the Bogibeel Bridge or the Dibrugarh-Bogibeel Bridge, is a road-cum-rail bridge that spans over the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Assam. It is the second-longest road bridge in India, with a length of 4.94 kilometres (3.07 mi). The bridge was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2018, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 5,900 crore and features a double-decked structure with a three-lane road on top and a single-line railway track on the bottom. The bridge aims to enhance connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, reducing travel time from Dibrugarh to Itanagar from seven hours to just four hours. Additionally, it will improve connectivity to the border areas of China and Myanmar, and boost the defence and strategic interests of the country.

The bridge is a marvel of engineering and design, with 42 piers and three welded steel truss spans ranging from 125 to 170 metres in length. The bridge can withstand wind speeds of up to 180 kmph and seismic forces of up to 7 on the Richter scale. The bridge also has advanced safety features such as CCTV cameras, emergency call boxes, fire hydrants, crash barriers and lighting systems.

The bridge is expected to benefit more than 5 lakh commuters daily and reduce vehicular pollution and congestion in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge will also boost the development of the region as a hub for agriculture, tourism and hydro-power sectors. The bridge will also open up new opportunities for trade, commerce and cultural exchange between the two states.

Conclusion

The Atal Setu, the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the Dhola Sadiya Bridge and the Dibang River Bridge are four of the most impressive bridges in India, spanning over the sea and the river respectively. They are not only engineering marvels, but also symbols of national pride and unity. They have enhanced the connectivity, mobility and development of the regions they serve, and have also enriched the lives of millions of people who use them every day.