The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu during his visit to Assam, marking a major infrastructure milestone in the Northeast.

Key facts at a glance

• Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu is a six-lane extradosed bridge over the Brahmaputra River.
• It connects Guwahati with North Guwahati, forming part of an 8.4-kilometre-long connectivity corridor.
• Length of main bridge: 1.24 kilometres.
• Estimated cost: Between ₹2,600 crore and ₹3,300 crore.
• It is the largest ever project undertaken by  Assam Public Work Department, it is primarily financed by the BRICS New Development Banks.
• Travel time reduced: From long ferry- and bridge-dependent commutes to around 7 minutes.

Key developments

• Assam Chief Minister conducted the final inspection ahead of inauguration.
• The bridge will be open for public access till March 1, after which it will allow all categories of vehicles.
• The State plans to impose higher tolls on commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks to regulate heavy traffic.
• The government is exploring the possibility of a dedicated bicycle track, promoting sustainable and non-motorised transport.
  

Why it matters

• Urban mobility: Eases congestion and reduces pressure on existing bridges and ferry services.
• Economic growth: Encourages commercial, residential, and logistics development in North Guwahati.
• Regional integration: Strengthens Assam’s role as a connectivity hub in the Northeast.
• Sustainability angle: Proposed cycling infrastructure aligns with green mobility goals.

Exam hook – 

Consider the following statements about Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu:

1. It is a six-lane extradosed bridge over the Brahmaputra River.
2. It connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and reduces travel time to about seven minutes.
3. The bridge is part of a larger connectivity corridor exceeding eight kilometres.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 only

Correct answer: (c)

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