Guwahati, Sept 15: The old Saraighat Bridge, the iconic rail-cum-road structure spanning the Brahmaputra, reopened to vehicular traffic on Tuesday afternoon after remaining shut for nearly two months for essential repair and strengthening works.
The bridge, which had been closed since July 13, was scheduled to resume operations at 12.30 pm. The General Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) was expected to formally inaugurate the restored structure.
Authorities had ordered the complete suspension of vehicular movement on the decades-old bridge to address significant structural issues identified by railway engineers. During the closure, all traffic between Guwahati and North Guwahati was diverted through the newer Saraighat Bridge, leading to prolonged congestion on both banks of the river and along several alternative routes.
District officials had earlier appealed to motorists, particularly those travelling to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport or attending time-sensitive appointments, to plan journeys with extra buffer time. With the old bridge now back in service, traffic authorities anticipate a gradual easing of pressure on the parallel structure and surrounding road networks.
The Saraighat Bridge has long served as a critical artery connecting the south and north banks of the Brahmaputra. Its temporary shutdown had tested the city’s traffic management systems and highlighted the continuing dependence on these ageing yet vital links.