Once the only vital gateway to the Northeast, the historic Saraighat Bridge spans the Brahmaputra at Guwahati. Commissioned in 1962, the iconic bridge has recently undergone comprehensive rehabilitation at a cost of around Rs 7 crore, including repairs to eight damaged expansion joints, the road deck and underlying steel structural members, informs NFR. (Photo Courtesy: NFR)
Maligaon, September 15 (MExN): The iconic Saraighat Bridge, one of Assam’s most significant engineering landmarks and a vital gateway to the North-East, has undergone a comprehensive rehabilitation at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore, with the major repair and strengthening works completed on September 15, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) stated.
The rehabilitation work commenced on July 13, 2026, following assessments that found deterioration in the bridge’s upper deck slab and damage affecting critical structural components.
NFR said the extent of deterioration had made routine maintenance and minor repairs inadequate, necessitating a comprehensive intervention to improve the bridge’s long-term structural reliability.
Commissioned in 1962, the bridge has served the region for more than six decades and remains a crucial link between the North-East and the rest of the country, facilitating the movement of people and goods across the Brahmaputra.
As per an NFR release, inspection and assessment identified a distressed expansion joint at the Amingaon end, distress in supporting steel members, structural cracks and cavity formation in spalled concrete.
Water ingress had also damaged eight of the 11 expansion joints provided on the bridge while multiple potholes and distressed portions were found on the road deck, it said.
Pothole repairs were undertaken several times between January and May 2026, but limited curing time while maintaining traffic led to repeated damage to the repaired concrete surface, particularly from heavy-loaded vehicles, NFR added.
The major rehabilitation works included dismantling and repair of eight damaged expansion joints, removal and recasting of distressed portions of the concrete road deck, and detailed repair and strengthening of the underlying steel structural members.
Damaged deck portions at multiple locations were restored through concreting, followed by adequate curing to enhance durability and long-term performance.
According to NFR, the intervention was aimed at restoring the bridge, strengthening its critical structural components and ensuring that its structural integrity continues to meet modern load-bearing requirements and safety benchmarks.
The railway described the rehabilitation as a significant infrastructure-safety intervention aimed at safeguarding the historic bridge and ensuring its continued reliability for Assam and the wider Northeast.
The completion of the work, NFR said, reflects the technical expertise and sustained efforts of its Engineering team, with emphasis on safety, structural integrity and long-term durability.
