Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday that the state government is taking a major initiative to replace over 1,000 wooden and dilapidated bridges with all-weather reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures. This move aims to improve connectivity and ensure faster delivery of government services across the state.
The bridge-upgradation programme is focused on strengthening road connectivity, particularly in areas where ageing or vulnerable bridges have been affecting the movement of people and goods. According to Sarma, the conversion of old wooden and structurally weak bridges into RCC bridges will improve the movement of ambulances, school vehicles, public transport, and commercial vehicles, while reducing disruptions to transportation.
Sarma inaugurated a 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.
Better connectivity will 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 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.
