Prime Minister launches “Mahabahu-Brahmaputra Programme” in Assam

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has launched multiple initiatives in Assam. It includes the Mahabahu-Brahmaputra Programme and the 2 bridges across the Brahmaputra.

Mahabahu-Brahmaputra Programme:

• Aim: It will provide seamless connectivity to the Eastern parts of India. It includes various development activities for the people living around River Brahmaputra and River Barak.

Key Initiatives launched under the Mahabahu-Brahmaputra programme:

• Ro-pax Vessel Services: These are water transport services. It launched between Neemati Ghat (Jorhat) and Majuli island, North Guwahati and South Guwahati as well as Dhubri and Hatsingimari. The benefits of this service include a reduction in travel time, vehicular emission and traffic on the road.
• Inland Water Transport(IWT) Terminal: It will be built at Jogighopa in Assam. The terminal will help in reducing the traffic on the Siliguri Corridor towards Kolkata and Haldia. It will facilitate the uninterrupted movement of cargo to the various North-Eastern States like Meghalaya and Tripura and to Bhutan and Bangladesh as well.
• Launch of E-Portals: E-Portals are launched to promote ease of doing business:
  • Car-D (Cargo Data) portal: It will collate cargo and cruise data on a real-time basis.
  • PANI (Portal for Asset and Navigation Information): It will act as a one-stop solution for providing information about river navigation and infrastructure.

Dhubri – Phulbari Bridge

• It is a proposed bridge over the Brahmaputra River. It will connect Assam’s Dhubri with Meghalaya’s Phulbari.
• The bridge is planned to be completed by 2026–27. It would be India’s longest bridge over water, which is more than 19 km.

Majuli Bridge:

• The Bridge will connect Jorhat to Majuli (Nemati ghat to Kamlabari ghat). The total length of this bridge is 6.8 Km.
• This bridge will provide connectivity to Majuli Island. This island is the cultural capital and cradle of Assamese civilization for the past 500 years.

Majuli Island:

• It is the world’s largest river island located in the Brahmaputra River, Assam. In 2016, it became the first island to be made a district in India.
• The island is formed by the River Subansiri in the north and River Brahmaputra in the south.
• The island is the nerve centre of neo-Vaishnavite culture. It has many ‘Sattras’ (religious and cultural institutions).
• The tribal communities living on the island include the Misings, the Deoris, and the Sonowal Kacharis.

Source: Indian Express