A bridge connects two points and spans gaps, enabling smooth passage over roads, valleys, or rivers. But have you ever wondered about the longest bridges in India that stretch the furthest, connecting distant regions with their impressive length? Yes! This article takes you on an exciting journey through India’s largest bridges, where breathtaking landscapes meet engineering marvels. These majestic structures symbolize nations’ seamless connectivity and progress and span vast distances.
Whether rail, water, road, or a combination of some, these bridges are the lifelines that open new horizons for travel, exploration, and trade, bringing regions closer. Join us as we delve into the list of some of the longest bridges in India and many more exciting details about them. Read on!
Top 10 Longest Bridges In India:
Building bridges is considered a way to represent the advancement in one’s country and how well it is connected. We have provided you with the list of the top longest bridges in India that seem to captivate local and foreign visitors’ attention.
1. Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Bridge:
Dr Bhupen Hazarika Bridge is the longest bridge in India, also called the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge. It is a remarkable bridge in Assam, India, spanning the Brahmaputra River. This bridge has facilitated more accessible transportation, promoting socio-economic development and improving the regions’ connectivity.
- Distance: 9.15 KM.
- Opening year: 2017.
- Bridge type: Road.
- Location: Lohit River, Tinsukia, Assam.
- Connecting: Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Mahatma Gandhi Setu:
Ganga Setu or Mahatma Gandhi Setu is an engineering marvel constructed over the Ganga River in Bihar, India. This bridge connects Patna with Hajipur and is one of the country’s longest river bridges. It facilitates the movement of goods and peoplebetween the two regions.
- Distance: 5.75 KM.
- Opening year: 1982.
- Bridge type: Road.
- Location: Ganga, Patna, Bihar.
- Connecting: South Patna to Hajipur.
3. Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL):
One of the most beautiful bridges in India is the Bandra-Worli sea link which connects Worli and Bandra suburbs. It is one of India’s costliest bridges because it took 750 crores for the overall construction. Tourists and locals like to go to this place as a tourist spot in addition to offering connectivity.
- Distance: 5.57 KM.
- Opening year: 2009.
- Bridge type: Road.
- Location: Mahim Bay, Mumbai.
- Connecting: Bandra to Worli.
4. Bogibeel Bridge:
The Bogibeel Bridge is India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge that connects Dhemaji and Dibrugarh districts. This bridge is built over the Brahmaputra river, where a 3-lane roadway is the bridge’s upper deck, and a 2-line broad gauge railway is found in the lower deck.
- Distance: 4.94 KM.
- Opening year: 2018.
- Bridge type: Rail-cum-road.
- Location: Brahmaputra River, Assam.
- Connecting: Dhemaji to Dibrugarh.
5. Vikramshila Setu:
Vikramshila Setu is named after the ancient center of the Pala Empire built in Bihar. This bridge connects NH80 and NH31 in the modern-day context and connects many Bihar districts.
- Distance: 4.07 KM.
- Opening year: 2001.
- Bridge type: Road.
- Location: Ganga, Bhagalpur, Bihar.
- Connecting: Bhagalpur to Naugachia.
6. Vembanad Rail Bridge:
Vembanad Rail Bridge, also called Edappally Vallaepadam Bridge, connects both places, hence the name. It is also Kerala’s most famous bridge.
- Distance: 4.62 KM.
- Opening year: 2011.
- Bridge type: Rail-cum-road.
- Location: Vembanad Lake, Kochi, Kerala.
- Connecting: Edappally to Vallarpadam.
7. Digha–Sonpur Bridge:
This Digha-Sonpur Bridge is a rail-cum-road bridge that connects the north, east, and southern parts of the state. The railway station of Patliputra and Bharpura are built on either side to make full use of this bridge.
- Distance: 4.55 KM.
- Opening year: 2016.
- Bridge type: Rail-cum-road.
- Location: Ganga, Patna, Bihar.
- Connecting: Digha, Patna to Sonpur, Saran.
8. Arrah–Chhapra Bridge:
The Arrah-Chhapra Bridge connects two major cities of Bihar and is a four-way road bridge. This bridge has reduced the traveling distance from 120 km to 21 km, per the estimates offering a direct route to Patna. This bridge is called Veer Kunwar Singh Bridge officially.
- Distance: 4.35 KM.
- Opening year: 2017.
- Bridge type: Road.
- Location: Ganga, Saran, Bihar.
- Connecting: Arrah to Chhapra.
9. Godavari Bridge:
As the name suggests, Godavari Bridge was built above the Godavari River. It was decommissioned in 1997 and replaced by the single-line—rail bridge, the Godavari arch bridge. This bridge showcases the development in the cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh, Rajahmundry.
- Distance: 4.13 KM.
- Opening year: 2015.
- Bridge type: Rail-cum-road.
- Location: Godavari River, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh.
- Connecting: Kovvur to Rajahmundry.
10. Munger–Ganga Bridge:
The Munger-Ganga Bridge is built above India’s mythologically important river, Ganga. It is also a significant river bridge in Bihar, India. It promotes economic growth, development and facilitates transportation in the region.
- Distance: 3.69 KM.
- Opening year: 2016.
- Bridge type: Rail-cum-road.
- Location: Ganga, Munger, Bihar.
- Connecting: Munger to Jamalpur.
Top 5 Longest River Bridges in India:
India is home to several remarkable river bridges spanning rivers that promote development, enhance connectivity, and facilitate smoother transportation. We have listed the five longest river bridges in India:
1. Bhupen Hazarika Setu:
Also called Dhila-Sadiya Bridge, Bhupen Hazarika Setu is the longest river bridge in India, spanning across the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
- Distance: 9.15 KM.
- Opening year: 2017.
- Type of bridge: Road.
- Location: Lohit River, Tinsukia, Assam.
- Connecting: Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Dibang River Bridge:
Also called the Sikang Bridge, the Dibang river bridge is India’s second-longest river bridge. It is located in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Distance: 6.2 KM.
- Opening year: 2018.
- Type of bridge: Road.
- Location: Dibang River.
- Connecting: Arunachal Pradesh.
3. Bandra-Worli Sea Link:
The Bandra-Worli sea link connects Bandra and Worli, spanning across the Arabian Sea, making it a significant bridge in Mumbai.
- Distance: 5.57 KM.
- Opening year: 2009.
- Type of bridge: Road.
- Location: Mahim, Mumbai.
- Connecting: Bandra to Worli.
4. Mahatma Gandhi Setu:
One of the prominent river bridges in Bihar, India, is the Mahatma Gandhi Setu spanning across the Ganges River. The country’s longest river bridges facilitate transportation while connecting other important cities.
- Distance: 5.75 KM.
- Opening year: 1982.
- Type of bridge: Road.
- Location: Ganga, Patna, Bihar.
- Connecting: South Patna to Hajipur.
5. Bogibeel Bridge:
Bogibeel Bridge is a significant river bridge in Assam, India, spanning across the Brahmaputra River. It is the country’s longest rail-cum-road bridge.
- Distance: 4.94 KM.
- Opening year: 2018.
- Type of bridge: Rail-cum-road.
- Location: Brahmaputra River, Assam.
- Connecting: Dhemaji to Dibrugarh.
Top 5 Longest Railway Bridges in India:
India’s railway bridges are essential to the country’s transportation network. We have listed the longest Railway Bridges in India that contribute to the efficient movement of goods and passengers across the country.
1. Vembanad Rail Bridge:
The longest railway bridge in India is the Vembanad Rail Bridge, whose traffic is 15 trains per day and is dedicated only to goods trains. This bridge passes through three small islands and is built over the backwaters of Vembanad Lake.
- Distance: 4.60 KM.
- Opening year: 2011.
- Location: Vembanad Lake, Kochi, Kerala.
- Connecting: Esappally to Vallarpadam.
2. Nehru Setu Rail Bridge, Bihar:
Also known as the Upper Son Bridge, the Nehru Setu Rail Bridge in Bihar is India’s second longest railway bridge.
- Distance: 3.05 KM.
- Opening year: 1900.
- Location: Dehri, Bihar.
- Connecting: Dehri to Son Nagar.
3. Godavari Arch Bridge:
The Godavari Arch Bridge is the new railway built on the holy Godavari River. The new Godavari arch bridge is one of Asia’s longest-span prestressed concrete arches.
- Distance: 2.74 KM.
- Opening year: 1997.
- Location: Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh.
- Connecting: Kovvur to Rajahmundry.
4. Second Mahanadi Rail Bridge:
The second Mahanandi rail bridge was commissioned in 2008 with a cost of 120 crores and is designed to withstand a train speed of 160 km per hour.
- Distance: 2.10 KM.
- Opening year: 2008.
- Location: Cuttack, Odisha.
- Connecting: Mahanadi towards Cuttack.
5. PambanBridge, Tamil Nadu:
Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge in India that connects mainland India to the town of Rameshwaram on Pamban Island. It is the first sea bridge built in India.
- Distance: 2.06 KM.
- Opening year: 1913.
- Location: Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.
- Connecting: Pamban to Rameshwaram.
Top Longest Sea Bridges in India:
India is a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea. India has only five sea bridges apart from the Rama Setu connecting Pamban Island to the coast of Sri Lanka. Here is the list of the five sea bridges in India:
1. Bandra-Worli Sea Link – Mahim Bay:
The longest sea bridge in India is the Bandra-Worli sea link that connects Worli with Bandra across Mahim Bay. This cable-stayed bridge has a total length of 5.6 km and carries eight lanes of traffic.
2. Pamban Rail Bridge – Palk Strait:
The Indira Gandhi Bridge, or the Pamban Bridge, connects the rest of mainland India to the Rameswaram on Pamban Island across the Palk Strait. With a total length of about 2.3 km, Pamban Bridge is India’s second-longest sea bridge.
3. Pamban Road Bridge – Palk Strait:
The Pamban Rail Bridge and the Pamban Road Bridge run parallel, and the road bridge carries traffic on two lanes. Pamban Bridge is a transport link between the island of India and the mainland which is considered a marvel of engineering.
4. Vashi Bridge – Thane Creek:
Also called the Thane Creek Bridge, Vashi Bridge connects the Indian mainland to Mumbai city through Thane Creek. It is the first bridge that connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, and the Vashi Bridge is one of the four entry points into Mumbai.
5. Airoli Bridge – Thane Creek:
The Airoli Bridge is built across Thane Creek and is the second bridge connecting Mumbai to Navi Mumbai. This bridge links Thane – Belapur Road and Eastern Express Highway and is 3.8km long.
In conclusion, the longest bridges in India showcase the remarkable engineering prowess of the country while serving as vital links connecting different regions. These bridges symbolize seamless travel, connectivity, and progress while spanning vast distances. Bridges play an essential role in facilitating exploration, transformation, and trade aiding in the development and growth of the country. Don’t forget to let us know if you found the article helpful!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on pure research. The website is not responsible for the authenticity and accuracy of the information.
FAQ:
1. Which is the longest suspension bridge in India?
The iconic Bandra-Worli sea link is India’s longest suspension bridge. This bridge’s total length is approximately 5.6 kilometers and connects the neighborhoods of Bandra and Worli in Mumbai.
2. Which is the biggest cantilever bridge in India?
The Rabindra Setu, popularly called the Howrah Bridge, is India’s largest cantilever bridge. It connects the city of Howrah to Kolkata, spanning over the Hooghly River. This bridge showcases architectural brilliance and magnificent engineering.
3. Which is the longest hanging bridge in India?
The Matiri Bridge, locates in Uttarakhand, is the longest hanging bridge in India. It holds the distinction of being the country’s longest-hanging pedestrian bridge. It also provides stunning views of the surrounding natural beauty as it stretches over the Mandakini River. s
4. Which is the longest over bridge in India?
The Pir Panjal Railway Bridge is India’s longest bridge in Jammu and Kashmir. It provides a crucial link for the region’s railway network spanning approximately 11 kilometers.
6. Which is India’s tallest bridge?
Chenab Bridge, called the ‘Anji Khad Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, is India’s tallest bridge. It holds the record for being the highest railway bridge in the world, towering around 359 meters high above the Chenab River. This bridge is considered a testament to technological advancements and human ingenuity.
