Assam MLA demands Bogibeel Bridge to be named ‘Atal Setu’

As the whole nation is mourning due to the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a legislator from Assam on Friday said that the best way to pay tribute to the departed visionary leader will be to name the Bogibeel Bridge on Brahmaputra river as ‘Atal Setu’.

BJP legislator from Dibrugarh legislative assembly constituency in Assam, Prasanta Phukan said this on Friday while interacting with the newsmen in Dibrugarh and added that he would soon hand over a formal request to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in this regard.

It may be mentioned here that Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone of the much hyped rail cum road project in 2002 which will connect Dibrugarh district in Assam with Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Bogibeel is the fourth rail-road bridge on the Brahmaputra river in Assam. The bridge will be of strategic importance to India due to its location as it will significantly enhance India's ability to transport troops and supplies to its border with Tibet in Arunachal Pradesh

“I will write to Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal to take up with the Centre to name the bridge after Atal ji. The bridge must be known as Atal Setu. The bridge is a national project for the funding of the project is done from the Union budget,” he said adding that the bridge should also be inaugurated in December 25, the birth date of Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“Naming the bridge after Atal jee will be a tribute to the Prime minister who gave connectivity in the Northeast India a big push,” Phukan said.

The construction work of 4.94 km long bridge is likely to be completed by October this year.  The bridge once completed with ramp up logistical movement of armed forces in Arunachal Pradesh, which is bordering China. 

The project was approved by the Centre in 1996 as part of several infrastructure projects earmarked for the State under the Assam Accord of 1985.