FCC

Brahmaputra Bridge Project Faces Delay Due to Mighty River Currents

2023-08-04

The ambitious project to build a six-lane extradosed bridge spanning the Brahmaputra River, connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati, is facing delays due to the challenging and powerful river currents. The original completion target of mid-August 2023 has become unattainable, leaving the construction company and the State Government with no choice but to revise the timeline.

The construction of this high-tech bridge commenced in August 2019 but encountered setbacks right from the start when the COVID-19 pandemic hindered progress. Unfortunately, the situation worsened as the turbulent currents of the Brahmaputra, experienced both last year and this year, dealt significant blows to the project. While construction activities on both banks have been progressing, the central part of the bridge, which spans the main river channel, has been severely affected by the unpredictable water flow.

Due to the mighty river's forceful current, it has been challenging to keep barges stable on the water's surface. As a result, engineers and workers engaged in the project have faced difficulties transporting materials and conducting work from the barges. This issue was similarly encountered last year during the devastating flood when the river remained at a high water level from April to October.

Given the prevailing circumstances and the necessity to ensure safety and efficiency, the project stakeholders must reschedule the completion target.

Despite these challenges, the construction team remains committed to delivering this crucial infrastructure, albeit with a revised timeline to account for the unpredictable nature of the Brahmaputra River.