No Light On Bhupen Hazarika Setu In Tinsukia District

DOOMDOOMA: The Bhupen Hazarika Setu between Dholla and Sadiya over river Brahmaputra in Tinsukia district, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi exactly two years ago on this date with much fanfare, is without any lighting arrangement till date. Consequently, this 9.15-km RCC bridge — the longest river bridge in India and the second longest in whole of Asia — plunges into darkness once the sun sets.

Before inauguration of the bridge, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had said that a Rs 30-crore online tender for lighting it with electricity and solar power had been floated. But it is anybody’s guess now what is the status of that tender.

The bridge was a demand of the people of Assam in view of its strategic importance. The three-lane bridge is earthquake proof and was taken up to boost connectivity, trade and development as wll as facilitate the movement of troops and military logistics in Assam and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. In response to the aspirations of the people of Assam, the bridge was dedicated by the Prime Minister to legendary singer Dr Bhupen Hazarika by the Prime Minister.

But since then many road traffic accidents (RTA) have taken place on the bridge, mainly because of movement of high speed vehicles and for not having any lighting provision on the bridge. Although day and night patrolling has been provided by Assam Police after strong public protest, it is not hard to imagine its effectiveness in the absence of proper lighting provision there.

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