Dancing Bridge Over Barak Poses Grave Risk to Thousands: No Action from Authorities

A dancing bridge now hovers over the Barak River, striking fear in commuters who worry it could collapse at any moment, leading to a catastrophic accident. For the people of Barak Valley, this isn’t just any bridge – it’s a vital artery connecting Badarpur with Katigorah and linking the valley, as well as Tripura, to Guwahati via Meghalaya. Known as the Gammon Bridge at Badarpur Ghat, it is one of the oldest in Barak and serves as a landmark, signalling to travellers that they’ve arrived in Badarpur. But today, this once-crucial structure is in a state of decay. A portion of the bridge has sunk by about six inches, due to neglect by concerned departments that run on taxpayers’ money.

The Gammon Barak Bridge on National Highway 6, linking Katigorah and Badarpur, has been in a severely deteriorated condition for the past 5 to 6 months. Despite its critical state, there has been no visible effort from the concerned authorities to repair or address the looming danger, leaving thousands of daily commuters at risk. Should the bridge collapse, it would sever road connectivity between Guwahati and the districts of Karimganj and Hailakandi, as well as Tripura, leading to immense hardship for the people.

Locals report that large gaps have formed at the joints of a section of the bridge, and this portion has sunk by around 6 inches. Pedestrians fear for their safety as the bridge shakes violently whenever vehicles pass over it. Despite the terrifying conditions, heavy vehicles, including overloaded trucks carrying limestone and river stones, continue to cross the bridge daily, compounding the danger.

One particularly hazardous section is the joint on the Katigorah side of the bridge, where potholes are prevalent and pedestrians feel unsafe. Residents warn that a major accident could happen at any moment. A local sarcastically commented, “This is not just a hanging bridge but a 7th Wonder in our Barak Valley. I am thrilled to stand on the hanging bridge today. This is our ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ promise. The Assam government’s PWD (Public Works Department) is not agreeing to hand over this bridge (to NHIDCL or NHAI) but they are also not repairing this bridge It’s a wonder how it’s still standing, given its condition.”

The Assam Government’s Public Works Department (PWD) has been criticised for not handing over the responsibility for the bridge’s maintenance to national agencies like NHIDCL or NHAI, yet failing to conduct timely repairs. With no immediate action in sight, locals fear that the bridge’s collapse is just a matter of time.