The bridge is planned as a 1.3-km double-decker structure. Its lower deck will carry two railway lines, while the upper deck will have a three-lane road carriageway and a footpath. The projects are intended to increase rail and road capacity between Guwahati’s northern and southern banks and improve connectivity across the river.
The existing Saraighat Bridge, which opened in September 1962, carries a single railway line and a two-lane road. The Agthori-Kamakhya doubling project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in 2024, with Larsen & Toubro engaged for execution. Work in the densely built-up corridor has involved land acquisition, encroachment removal and the relocation of existing utilities.
NFR said substantial progress had been made in addressing these issues with support from the Assam government and local administration, although coordination was continuing on the remaining work fronts. Geotechnical investigations have been completed, while engineering, design and construction drawings are being prepared.
The main bridge will use well foundations and a welded Open Web Girder superstructure, with each main span measuring 125 metres. Approach viaducts will extend for around 600 metres on the Agthori side and 200 metres on the Kamakhya side. The structure will connect with road approaches being developed by the National Highways Authority of India towards Jalukbari and the Agthori-side road network.
NFR plans to use digital engineering, construction monitoring, quality-control and safety systems during execution, along with instrumentation to track the bridge’s performance. Construction activity is expected to increase progressively during the current financial year, and the project is scheduled for completion over the next few years.