Union minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that his ministry has received bids for constructing a bridge over the Brahmaputra river connecting Majuli to Jorhat with an estimated cost of Rs 925.47 crore.
Gadkari said this in a written reply to a query on whether there is any proposal for constructing a bridge over the Brahmaputra river connecting Majuli, a world heritage site and Nimatighat.
He further said that there is no proposal for the construction of highways on both sides of the Brahmaputra river.
He said that dredging work for Brahmaputra River is carried out on a need basis for smooth navigation of vessels, particularly during the lean season (October to March) where the width and depth of the navigation channel is less than targeted Available Depth (LAD).
“Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous body, under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways does maintenance dredging for shipping and navigation on National Waterways-2 (NW-2, River Brahmaputra),” he said