₹3,030 Cr Bridge Project Launched as PM Modi Dedicates Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu to Nation

Assam Gets Major Infrastructure Upgrade with Inauguration of Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2026, inaugurated the landmark Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu in Assam, a Rs.3,030-crore mega infrastructure project set to transform connectivity between Guwahati and North Guwahati. Spanning 1.24 km across the mighty Brahmaputra and forming part of an 8.4 km connectivity corridor, the bridge is the first extradosed structure in Northeast India — a hybrid engineering design that combines the strength of cable-stayed bridges with the stability of girder systems, offering a stiffer and more resilient deck.

Built in Seismic Zone V, one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the country, the structure incorporates advanced friction pendulum bearings for base isolation, enabling it to absorb seismic shocks and maintain structural stability during tremors. It also features a state-of-the-art Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) with embedded sensors to track stress and detect early signs of damage in real time.

The project is expected to dramatically cut travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati from 45–60 minutes to just seven minutes, easing congestion on the aging Saraighat Bridge and improving logistics, trade, and daily commuting.

Named after Kumar Bhaskar Varma, the legendary ruler of the ancient Kamarupa kingdom, the bridge blends Assam’s historical legacy with modern engineering ambition. Its inauguration formed the centerpiece of a broader Rs5,450-crore development push in the state, including the launch of IIM Guwahati, a new National Data Centre in Amingaon, the rollout of 225 electric buses under PM-eBus Sewa, and the Prime Minister’s earlier landing at the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility in Dibrugarh. Together, the initiatives signal a major infrastructure and strategic expansion drive positioning Assam as a key hub in India’s Act East vision.