AS-SARAIGHAT

CM sets June 20 deadline for old Saraighat bridge repair
    Guwahati, Apr 29 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal Monday directed the railway authorities to complete
the repairing work of the old Saraighat bridge over river
Brahmaputra in Guwahati within June 20.
    Sonowal visited the work site and told the railway
authorities to engage manpower in three shifts and complete
casting work of the bridge within May 15.
    "The Saraighat bridge is a lifeline in terms of
connectivity for the people of north and south bank of river
Brahmaputra. It is very important to complete the repairing
work at the earliest to ensure hassle free traffic movement
for the people on both banks of the river," Sonowal told to
the railway officials at the site.
    Sonowal further directed that the repair works of the
bridge be completed within June 20 instead of June 30 as fixed
earlier by the railways and also to finish casting of the
bridge within May 15 so that it could be reopened for
vehicular movement on June 20.
    Further, considering the amount of repair work to be
executed, Sonowal advised the railways to engage manpower in
three shifts ensuring round the clock work instead of the
present two shifts.
    N-F Railway general manager Sanjive Roy informed the
chief minister that it is for the first time a major repair of
this scale has been taken up since the time of dedication of
the bridge to the service of the people in 1963.
    The railway officials assured the chief minister that
the repair work would be completed within June 20 as directed
by him.
    Saraighat bridge is the first rail-cum-road bridge
constructed over Brahmaputra river in Assam and it was built
by NFR. A parallel new three-lane Saraighat bridge was
inaugurated in 2017. PTI ESB
RG RG