Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a 2.86-kilometer bridge over the Brahmaputra River connecting Guwahati and north Guwahati. Costing around Rs 3,030 crore, this 6-lane bridge is the first extradosed bridge in Northeast India, designed to reduce travel time between the two areas to just 7 minutes. The bridge incorporates base isolation technology using friction pendulum bearings due to the region’s high seismicity.
The Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu features high-performance stay cables for durability and long-term structural performance. Additionally, a Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) has been integrated for real-time condition monitoring, early damage detection, and improved safety and service life. Earlier, PM Modi also inaugurated an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in Moran, Dibrugarh district, the first such facility in the northeastern region.
The ELF is seen as a strategic addition to India’s military infrastructure in the Northeast, enhancing the Indian Air Force’s operational flexibility in a region with heightened tensions. This 4.2-kilometer reinforced concrete stretch serves as an emergency runway for both military and civilian aircraft, offering mobility and operational surprise in critical situations. The facility is designed to function as an alternative landing option when other airbases are unavailable due to operational constraints or emergencies.
PM Modi witnessed an air show by the Indian Air Force following the ELF’s inauguration, featuring Rafale, Sukhoi, and MIG fighter aircraft. The successful takeoff and landing of these fighter planes on the highway strip were witnessed by around 1 lakh people, marking a historic occasion in Assam.
