Railways to Build Second Saraighat Rail-Cum-Road Bridge Over Brahmaputra

The Ministry of Railways is set to begin construction of the Second Saraighat Rail-Cum-Road Bridge in Assam, alongside doubling of the railway track between Agthori and Kamakhya stations. The two projects, falling under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone, are intended to strengthen rail and road connectivity across the Brahmaputra, raise transportation capacity for Guwahati and improve links across the Northeast.

NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma described the bridge as a significant addition to Assam's transport infrastructure, one that would ease the movement of both passengers and goods through the region.

Track doubling between Agthori and Kamakhya

The doubling project covers 7.20 km and was sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in 2024, after which detailed planning and tendering were taken up. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been entrusted with executing the work.

Sharma noted that the bridge's location in a highly developed urban setting has brought considerable challenges, including land acquisition, removal of encroachments and shifting of existing utilities. A substantial part of these issues has already been resolved with the support of the state government and local administration. On the engineering side, geotechnical investigations have been completed, while major design, engineering and construction drawing activities are under way.

A double-decker crossing

The centrepiece of the project is a 1.3-km-long double-decker rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra. Its lower deck will carry two railway lines, while the upper deck will have a three-lane road carriageway and a footpath. The existing Saraighat Bridge currently carries a single railway line and a two-lane road.

The main bridge will rest on well foundations and feature a welded Open Web Girder superstructure with a 125-metre span. Approach viaducts will connect it on both sides, extending about 600 metres on the Agthori side and 200 metres on the Kamakhya side.

According to Sharma, the viaducts will be supported on pile foundations with composite girder superstructures for both the railway and road components, with four road spans on each side forming part of the integrated double-decker arrangement. The project will also interface with road approaches being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), providing connectivity towards Jalukbari on one side and the Agthori-side road network on the other.

Focus on technology and durability

NFR said the project is being planned around modern construction technology, digital engineering, quality and safety, and will incorporate digital monitoring and bridge instrumentation systems to track the structure and its performance.

Sharma said the construction methodology is being tailored to the demanding conditions of the Brahmaputra, with particular attention to foundation work, structural erection, quality assurance, construction safety and long-term durability.

Connectivity gains

The new bridge is expected to add capacity to a key corridor linking the two banks of the Brahmaputra. Sharma said the additional railway capacity would allow smoother movement of passenger and freight traffic, while the three-lane road component would improve connectivity between the northern and southern banks of Guwahati and support the city's future transportation needs.

By combining rail, road and associated approach infrastructure into a single integrated corridor, the project is expected to enhance multimodal connectivity across the river. Sharma added that the project is being closely supported and monitored by the concerned authorities, including the Railway Board, reflecting its importance for connectivity and capacity enhancement in the Northeast, and that its integration with the NHAI road approaches would further strengthen the corridor.