Transport in Assam: Highways, Railways and Waterways
Assam's long narrow valley, its many great rivers and its rugged hills make transport both difficult and unusually important. Roads carry most of the passengers and goods, railways tie the valley together and link the state with the rest of India, and the Brahmaputra has been a highway of its own since ancient times. Added to these are the bridges that cross the Brahmaputra, the airports that connect the state to the world, and the inland waterways that still carry people and cargo to the remotest riverine villages. This topic is a favourite of examiners because it is full of names of highways, bridges, stations and waterways that are easy to ask and easy to remember.
Roads and highways
The longest National Highway of Assam is NH 31, now renumbered as NH 27, which runs through the Brahmaputra valley. The Barak valley is served by NH 44 (now NH 6), which passes through Silchar, while the road connecting Guwahati with Shillong is also NH 6, earlier known as NH 40. In the east, the stretch that links Dibrugarh with Tinsukia is part of NH 27, formerly NH 37. The total road network of Assam is about 92,000 to 94,000 kilometres, including national highways, state PWD roads and rural roads. Roads are the lifeline of the state, because the valley depends on them for trade, administration and daily travel.
Bridges over the Brahmaputra
The Saraighat bridge at Guwahati is the classic bridge over the Brahmaputra, connecting the north and south banks, and it was opened for traffic in 1962. A second bridge at Guwahati is the Narengi-Kuruwa bridge, also called the new Saraighat bridge. The longest bridge over the Brahmaputra is the Bogibeel bridge near Dibrugarh, inaugurated on 25 December 2018. The longest river bridge of India located in Assam, however, is the Bhupen Hazarika Setu or Dhola-Sadiya bridge over the Lohit, inaugurated on 26 May 2017. These bridges have transformed communication in the upper valley and the far east of the state.
Railways
The first railway station of Assam was Dibrugarh, opened in 1882, and the biggest railway station today is Guwahati. Assam lies in the North-East Frontier Railway (NFR) zone, whose headquarters is at Maligaon in Guwahati. The railway is especially important because it is less affected by floods than roads, and it carries the bulk of long-distance traffic between the state and the rest of the country.
Waterways
The Brahmaputra is the main waterway of Assam. It is declared as National Waterway 2, running from Sadiya to Dhubri, a length of about 891 kilometres, and it was declared a national waterway in 1988. The Barak river, from Lakhipur to Bhanga, is National Waterway 6, and it is the main waterway connecting the Barak valley with Bangladesh, where it becomes the Surma and later the Meghna. The main inland water transport terminal of Assam is the Pandu port in Guwahati. In a state where roads are often damaged by floods and landslides, waterways remain a vital means of transport and trade.
Air transport
The oldest airport of Assam is the Mohanbari airport at Dibrugarh, while the biggest airport is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Borjhar in Guwahati. Air travel is important for reaching the remote districts and for connecting the state quickly with the rest of the country, and the international airport at Guwahati is the main gateway to the North-East.
How to prepare this topic
- Learn the highways with their old and new numbers: NH 31 now NH 27, and NH 44 now NH 6.
- Fix the bridges and their years: Saraighat 1962, Dhola-Sadiya 26 May 2017 and Bogibeel 25 December 2018.
- Remember the railway facts: Dibrugarh the first station in 1882, Guwahati the biggest, and NFR based at Maligaon.
- Memorise the waterways: NW 2 on the Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Dhubri, NW 6 on the Barak from Lakhipur to Bhanga, and the Pandu port at Guwahati.
- Note the airports and the road network figures: Mohanbari the oldest, Borjhar the biggest, and about 92,000 to 94,000 kilometres of roads.
Common exam traps
- The longest bridge over the Brahmaputra is Bogibeel, but the longest river bridge of India is the Dhola-Sadiya bridge over the Lohit - the two are different.
- Saraighat was opened in 1962, while the new Saraighat or Narengi-Kuruwa bridge is a separate, later bridge.
- Guwahati is the biggest railway station, but Dibrugarh was the first railway station of the state.
- National Waterway 2 is on the Brahmaputra and National Waterway 6 is on the Barak; do not interchange them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the longest National Highway of Assam and which highway serves the Barak valley?
The longest National Highway of Assam is NH 31, now renumbered as NH 27, which runs through the Brahmaputra valley. The Barak valley is served by NH 44, now NH 6, which passes through Silchar, and the same NH 6 also connects Guwahati with Shillong, where it was earlier known as NH 40. In the east, the Dibrugarh-Tinsukia stretch is part of NH 27, formerly NH 37.
Which are the main bridges over the Brahmaputra and when were they opened?
The Saraighat bridge at Guwahati, opened for traffic in 1962, was the classic first bridge over the Brahmaputra in the state, and the Narengi-Kuruwa bridge is the second bridge at Guwahati. The longest bridge over the Brahmaputra is the Bogibeel bridge near Dibrugarh, inaugurated on 25 December 2018. The longest river bridge of India in Assam is the Bhupen Hazarika Setu or Dhola-Sadiya bridge over the Lohit, inaugurated on 26 May 2017.
Which is the first railway station of Assam and which railway zone covers the state?
The first railway station of Assam was Dibrugarh, opened in 1882, while the biggest railway station today is Guwahati. The state lies in the North-East Frontier Railway (NFR) zone, whose headquarters is at Maligaon in Guwahati. The railway is especially important because it is less affected by floods than roads and carries most long-distance traffic between Assam and the rest of the country.
Which are the national waterways of Assam and what is the main inland terminal?
The Brahmaputra is National Waterway 2, running from Sadiya to Dhubri over a length of about 891 kilometres, and it was declared a national waterway in 1988. The Barak river, from Lakhipur to Bhanga, is National Waterway 6 and connects the Barak valley with Bangladesh through the Surma and Meghna. The main inland water transport terminal of Assam is the Pandu port in Guwahati.
Which are the oldest and the biggest airports of Assam?
The oldest airport of Assam is the Mohanbari airport at Dibrugarh, and the biggest is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Borjhar in Guwahati. The Guwahati airport is the main gateway to the North-East and handles the largest volume of air traffic in the state, while the smaller airports and airstrips serve remote districts.