Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the strategically important Dhola-Sadiya Bridge in Assam.


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After inaugurating the Rs 2,056 crore strategic bridge at Sadiya in Assam's Tinsukia district, Modi walked a short distance over it.


The Prime Minister announced that the country's longest bridge will be named after late legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika. Sadiya was the birth place of the maverick singer.


"The bridge will not only save money, reduce travel time but it comes as a foundation for the beginning of a new economic revolution. That's why the whole nation has its eyes on this bridge", Modi said here on third anniversary of his government.


"For five decades you people have been waiting for a bridge. That has now been inaugurated today (Friday)," Modi said while speaking after inaugurating the Dhola-Sadiya bridge.


"If Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji had returned to power in 2004, then you would have got this bridge 10 years ago," he added.


"What Atalji dreamt for the northeast is being completed by the BJP government in last three years."


"The bridge will bring development to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. For fulfilling India's dream of becoming a top economically developed nation, a superpower, then the North Eastern region is the place to begin with", the PM said.


PM Modi today morning reached Assam. He was received by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the airport.


PM Modi was accompanied by  Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari.


The India's longest bridge is a three lane one, which would link Dhola is Assam to Sadiya in Arunachal Pradesh.


The bridge will ensure which is 9.15 kilometre will ensure 24X7 connectivity between uppare Assam and eastern part of Arunachal.


The bridge would also reduce the distance from Rupai on NH 37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH 52 in Arunachal by 165 km.


It has been built at a cost of about Rs 2,056 crore over river Lohit, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.


The Dhola-Sadiya bridge is longer than the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (5.6 km) in Mumbai by nearly two-thirds.


The bridge will also benefit the army, with convoys requiring less time to journey from Assam to the posts along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge is also expected to enhance India's defence capabilities in the northeastern region.


The Ministry of Shipping said the Dhola-Sadiya bridge promises to usher in prosperity in the North-East, it said adding, it will provide efficient road connectivity to remote and backward areas which have poor road infrastructure.


PM Modi termed Dhola-Sadiya Bridge as one of the most important infrastructure projects of the nation.


He is scheduled to address a public meeting at Khanapara in the evening.


The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for two key projects- AIIMS and IARI. “Both projects will quicken the development of Assam and the Northeast,” he said on twitter.