Majuli not an isolated place, it is well connected via road

OUR CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Is Majuli -- the biggest riverine island of the world located in the mighty Brahmaputra -- really an isolated place? Can Majuli be reached only by ferry from Nimatighat of Jorhat? Isn't there any other safe road connectivity to this cultural capital of Assam from any district of the State?

At present, these questions have come into the fore and turned the topics of much discussion across the State following the tragic ferry mishap that took place at Nimatighat on September 8. This mishap took place after a double-engine Inland Water Transport (IWT) ferry named 'SB Tikirai' coming from Kamalabari Ghat to Nimatighat had had a collision with a single-engine private boat named 'Maa Kamala', bound to Kamalabari Ghat, run under the IWT (Inland Water Transport), leading to the capsize of the latter. The smaller ferry reportedly broke on one side.

After this tragic ferry accident, many people want to know as to whether there is road connectivity to Majuli besides, of course the ferry ride from Nimatighat to Kamalabari ghat. In this regard, a number of people across the State and also from other States have been contacting this correspondent too since September 8.

In this regard, it is observed that most of the people have been deluded by the wrong information provided by various websites available in Google Search Engine regarding the media to reach Majuli.

According to these websites, "As a river island, Majuli is not connected by roadways to any major cities or towns. Hence buses or taxis cannot ferry tourists to the little island. One can reach Jorhat by road. From Guwahati, a seven-hour bus ride will transport tourists to Jorhat. Likewise, passengers can also hire a private taxi to reach Jorhat. From here however, they will have to rely on ferries to reach Majuli."

However this information is not correct. Majuli is well-connected by roadway from Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district via Dhakuakhana subdivision. The travellers and tourists can easily go to Majuli by road from Dhakuakhana town. It is notable here that Lakhimpur is separated from Majuli by the Kherkotia Suti in Dhakuakhana, the Lohit Suti in North Lakhimpur (at Lohit Khaboloo) and by the Subansiri River in Bihpuriya (at Dhunaguri).

The Dhakuakhana-Majuli two-lane connecting road, connects Garhmur -- the headquarters of this riverine island district. There is an RCC Bridge over Kherkotia Suti. Before the construction of this RCC Bridge, a wooden bridge connected the land of Majuli with that of Lakhimpur.

The 13.29 KM stretch of this road from Khajua Tiniali of Dhakuakhana to Kherkotia Suti under Lakhimpur district has been improved under a Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme for the year of 2016--17 with the investment of Rs. 22.276 crore. Similarly, the remaining 18.40 KM of the road from Kherkotia Suti to Garhmur under Majuli district has been upgraded under the CRF scheme for the year of 2016--17 with the investment of Rs 27.430 crore.

The distance between Dhakuakhana and Garhmur along the road is only 38 KM. Super Bus Service (day and night) to Garhmur via Dhakuakhana is available from Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) of Guwahati.

Flight passengers, coming to Lilabari Airport from Kolkata, can go to Majuli from North Lakhimpur town through NH-15 up to Gogamukh at first, then Dhakuakhana through Gogamukh-Dhakuakhana State Highway (two lanes).

Similarly, train passengers from Guwahati or any other stations from Lower Assam and Middle Assam can come to North Lakhimpur or Gogamukh railway station to go to Majuli via Dhakuakhana. The distance between Gogamukh and Dhakuakhana is only 38 KM while the route from North Lakhimpur to Dhakuakhana via Gogamukh is 80 KM.

Had there been bridges over the Lohit Suti and Khaboloo River at Lohit Khaboloo along the North Lakhimpur-Kamalabari road and had the proposed bridge over River Subansiri been constructed at Dhunaguri, a safe journey to Majuli could have been conducted through roadways from North Lakhimpur to Majuli. Notably, buses plied from North Lakhimpur to Kamalabari through the North Lakhimpur-Kamalabari road (around 30KM) till 2000.

On the other hand, tourists and travellers from the Upper Assam districts proceeding to Majuli can move to Dhemaji town by bus or by train to the Dhemaji railway station via the Bogibeel Bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra. Then, they can arrive at Dhakuakhana town from Dhemaji through the Dhakuakhana-Dhemaji road via Machkhowa. The distance of the Dhakuakhana-Dhemaji road via Machkhowa is only 38 KM. They can reach Dhakuakhana from Dhemaji via Gogamukh or Ghilamora too.

Mentionably, Majuli -- with an area of 1,256 sq km (as in 1991) - is a picturesque, lush green and pollution-free river island in the mighty River Brahmaputra. But due to soil erosion, it has now got reduced to just 875 Sq KM.

Nevertheless, Majuli is still the world's largest river island. It attracts tourists from all over the world. Majuli is also a strong contender for a place in UNESCO's 'World Heritage Sites'. It has been the cultural capital of the Assamese civilization since the 16th century.

A prominent center for neo-Vaishnavite philosophy, there are 22 Vaishnava xatras in the island -- the first of which was established in the 15th century by Srimanta Sankaradev. These xatras attract a lot of tourists. They can opt to take the road to this socio-cultural epicentre of Assam via Dhakuakhana from Lakhimpur and Dhemaji until the construction of Majuli-Jorhat connecting Bridge is completed in next four years.

Also Read: After Majuli Boat Mishap Passengers Were Seen Crossing Brahmaputra By Govt Ferry, Wearing Life Jackets

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