Kamalakhya raises Gammon Bridge issue in Assembly, Govt Assures Temporary Repair by March 31

During the Zero Hour of the current Assam Legislative Assembly budget session, North Sribhumi MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha highlighted the worsening state of the Gammon Bridge over the River Barak in Badarpur on Thursday (February 20, 2025).

Purkayastha highlighted the poor state of the bridge, calling it a potential safety hazard. The on-record Congress MLA started by praising the BJP-led Government by stating, “Before the election, in the vision document (of the BJP), five bridges were assured over the Barak. I was wondering, how can five bridges come over this one river in a small valley like ours?” he remarked.

Listing the progress of these bridges, he highlighted that a 1,600-metre-long bridge is coming up in Pachgram bypass, a 510-metre-long bridge in Badarpur bypass, a 550-metre-long bridge in Sonabarighat, and a 390-metre-long bridge in Banskandi under the Lakhipur constituency. Additionally, he noted that the 400-metre-long Sadarghat Bridge has already been completed. “The work on these assured bridges is ongoing at a huge speed, and the progress is promising,” he stated.

However, he expressed mixed concerns about the deteriorating condition of the Gammon Bridge, which remains a crucial link for commuters. The present condition of Gammon is poor. We take this bridge every day. It is weak and can lead to a serious accident at any time,” he warned. While acknowledging the progress of bridge construction on both sides of the Gammon Bridge, he stressed that its worsening condition needs immediate government attention.

Urging the authorities to act swiftly, he suggested imposing road restrictions and sending an expert committee for inspection.

The now right-aligning MLA’s concerns turned into compliments as he counted the long-term solutions. Purkayastha mentioned that the upcoming Malua and Panchgram bridges, expected to be completed by November 2026, could help resolve the issue. He also appreciated the ongoing work on the East-West Corridor and praised the Rs. 25,000 crore infrastructure investment in the Borapani-Silchar highway.

In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed the House that the bridge, built in 1974, had undergone major rehabilitation in 2002-03 and was later inspected by agencies in 2013, which recommended a new bridge. The NHIDCL took charge of the NH6 Badarpur-Malidor stretch in May 2022 and imposed a 35-tonne load restriction on the Gammon Bridge.

Patowary revealed that the bridge’s railing was damaged on February 14, last year due to vibrations caused by heavy vehicles. Temporary repairs are underway and are expected to be completed by February 25, this year. A three-metre height restriction for heavy commercial vehicles has been recommended, and work on short-term repairs, including bearings, joints, and suspension, is ongoing with a deadline of March 31.

For a long-term solution, the government plans to construct two new bridges under the Badarpur-Panchgram bypass project, though land acquisition issues in Cachar have caused delays.

It takes more than a year to repair a bridge that connects this “island-like” valley to the rest of Assam, but the lack of strong voices fails to raise the issue in the Legislative Assembly and get the job done.