Dhola-Sadiya bridge is India's way to tell China to keep off

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the country's longest river bridge Dhola-Sadiya, which is being seen as bolstering India's defence preparedness against China.

The 9.15-km long bridge, which connects the easternmost corner of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will assist security agencies in wiping out hideouts of Northeastern insurgents such as anti-talk faction of ULFA and Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).

A senior police officer told ET, "Often militants after carrying out strikes in Assam move to safe hideouts in Arunachal Pradesh. All these years, the militants took advantage of the communication bottleneck and took refuge in Arunachal. From there they move to Myanmar."

Khaplang faction of NSCN, the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), the Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation have formed a common platform to fight India. This platform has been floated in the lines of erstwhile Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front. The group has declared itself as United National Liberation Front of WESEA (UNLFW) to liberate the ancestral homes in Western South Asia.

The bridge will shorten the distance between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 165 km thereby resulting in travel time reduction of five hours. The new bridge will also result in saving of Rs 10 lakh per day on diesel. The construction of the bridge started in 2011. Around Rs 950 crore has been pumped into building Dhola-Sadiya. The completion has been delayed by two years.

The bridge can take the weight of 60-tonne battle tanks, which can provide logistical support to the Army during its movement to Arunachal Pradesh.

At present, the Army has to move its equipment to Arunachal Pradesh through Tezpur in western Assam. China has claimed areas in Arunachal as part of its territory. In 1962, Chinese troops had entered Assam.

Besides giving fillip to tourism of Assam and Arunachal, the bridge will also be a major boost to small tea growers of Arunachal Pradesh. Ginger farmers will also be hugely benefited as they can access new market through the bridge.