Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, February 14, inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a six-lane extradosed bridge across the Brahmaputra that now directly links Guwahati and North Guwahati in just about seven minutes.
For residents who regularly travel between areas like Chandmari, Noonmati, Amingaon and IIT Guwahati, the bridge is expected to significantly ease commuting pressure, especially during peak office hours and festival rush.
A Game-Changer for Guwahati’s Daily Commute
Built at a cost of approximately ₹3,030 crore, the bridge is the first extradosed bridge in Northeast India.
Why it matters locally:
- Cuts travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to ~7 minutes
- Reduces congestion on the Saraighat Bridge
- Improves access to educational institutions like IIT Guwahati
- Boosts connectivity to Amingaon and upcoming development zones
With Guwahati expanding rapidly on both banks of the Brahmaputra, the new bridge is expected to reshape traffic movement patterns across the city.
Designed for Assam’s Seismic Conditions
Given Assam’s high seismic vulnerability, the structure incorporates advanced safety technology:
- Base isolation system using friction pendulum bearings
- High-performance stay cables for structural durability
- Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) for real-time safety tracking
The monitoring system allows engineers to detect structural stress early, a crucial feature for a city located in one of India’s highest seismic zones.
PM’s Assam Visit: From Moran to Lachit Ghat
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister landed at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on Moran Bypass, Dibrugarh, at around 10:30 AM and witnessed an aerial display of fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters before flying to Guwahati.
At Lachit Ghat, Guwahati, he also inaugurated and flagged off projects worth over ₹5,450 crore.
Key projects impacting Guwahati:
- National Data Centre for North-Eastern Region at Amingaon
- IIM Guwahati temporary campus
- 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme
While the buses will operate across multiple cities, Guwahati stands to gain from a strengthened electric public transport infrastructure.
What This Means for Guwahati
The inauguration marks one of the largest infrastructure milestones for the city in recent years.
For Guwahati, this isn’t just about a bridge; it signals:
- Stronger urban expansion toward North Guwahati
- Reduced dependency on older river crossings
- Enhanced disaster resilience
- Growth in digital and educational infrastructure
As vehicular movement begins in full swing, the real impact will be measured in reduced traffic bottlenecks and smoother inter-bank mobility for thousands of daily commuters.
Quick Facts
- Bridge Name: Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu
- Type: Six-lane extradosed bridge
- Cost: ₹3,030 crore
- Travel Time: ~7 minutes between Guwahati & North Guwahati
- Safety Features: Seismic base isolation + real-time monitoring
