Assam govt taking initiative to replace over 1,000 wooden bridges: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati, Aug 14 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that the state government is undertaking a major initiative to replace more than 1,000 wooden and dilapidated bridges with all-weather reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures to improve connectivity and ensure faster delivery of government services.

Sarma added that the bridge-upgradation programme is aimed at strengthening road connectivity across Assam, particularly in areas where ageing or vulnerable bridges continue to affect the movement of people and goods.

“Across Assam, we are upgrading more than 1,000 wooden and dilapidated bridges into all-weather and safe RCC ones to bolster connectivity and ensure faster welfare delivery to the people,” the Chief Minister told reporters.

He said that he inaugurated one such newly constructed bridge in his constituency on Friday, describing the project as a significant relief for thousands of commuters who depend on the route for their daily movement.

The initiative is expected to address longstanding connectivity challenges caused by bridges that become difficult or unsafe to use during the monsoon and other periods of adverse weather.

The conversion of old wooden and structurally weak bridges into RCC bridges is also expected to improve the movement of ambulances, school vehicles, public transport and commercial vehicles, while reducing disruptions to transportation.

Sarma added that better connectivity would have a direct impact on the delivery of welfare schemes and essential government services to people living in remote and rural areas.

The bridge programme is part of the state government’s broader infrastructure push aimed at improving road and transport networks across Assam.

The Chief Minister has repeatedly highlighted the need to strengthen rural and semi-urban connectivity as a means of supporting economic activity, improving access to healthcare and education and ensuring that government benefits reach beneficiaries more efficiently.

The replacement of vulnerable bridges is particularly significant for Assam, where heavy monsoon rainfall, flooding and river erosion frequently damage transport infrastructure and disrupt road connectivity.

The state government is expected to continue the bridge replacement programme across different parts of the state, with priority likely to be given to structures that are old, damaged or located along important connectivity routes.

The initiative is aimed at creating safer and more reliable infrastructure while strengthening Assam’s overall transport network.

–IANS

tdr/khz