Residents of Dhemaji as well as Siang valley of Arunachal Pradesh have expressed their happiness over the recent report that Bogibeel Bridge over Brahmaputra liking Upper Assam with North Assam bordering to Arunachal is opening at the year’s end.
The people of the region are expecting a lot from the much hyped rail cum Road Bridge that it will ease surface communication between Siang Valley and Upper Assam with easternmost Arunachal districts.
According to them, the bridge is expected to usher in a new era of economic development in the region, apart from strengthening national security in the border areas.
“A large number of Arunachali people particularly of Siang region go to Dibrugarh and Tinsukia of Assam for medical and other emergency purposes almost every day. So, opening of the bridge will provide us opportunity to travel along the route besides promoting commercial prospects”, said one Kaling Dai, former East Siang Zilla Parishad Chairperson.
Dr Kadum Jonnom, a medical officer of East Siang in Arunachal observes that opening of Bogibeel bridge in Assam will bring drastic improvement on community health in the region.
He hoped that referred medical cases on emergency would reach to Dibrugarh hospitals within short period and get better medical support, which earlier was a tough task for the patients.
People of all walks of life in the Siang region including the retired officers and students are optimistic that road and rail link between Siang region and Upper Assam will make their journey easier and safer. Moreover, they will avail another opportunity to book flight services from Dibrugarh to travel to different parts of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate and dedicate Bogibeel bridge, India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge over Brahmaputra river to the nation on December 25 next.
As such, the Railway Ministry had showed its eagerness to inaugurate the Bogibeel bridge coinciding the birth anniversary of Vajpayee.
Located at 20 kilometres away from the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border at Likabali (Lower Siang), the Bogibeel bridge would serve as an alternative to the Kolia Bhomora Setu at Tezpur and the Bhupen Hazarika Setu near Tinsukia district, in providing connectivity to nearly five million people residing in upper Assam and bordering Arunachal districts.
Bogibeel Bridge is the fourth rail-cum-road bridge to come up across the Brahmaputra in Assam. Due to its location, the bridge will be of strategic importance to the country as it will significantly enhance the country’s ability to transport troops and supplies to its border with China, in Arunachal Pradesh.