Citizens, political leaders rally to save British-era bridge in Sivasagar
Citizens, organisations, and political leaders have joined forces to demand the preservation and restoration of the 90-year-old British-era structure that has served as a nostalgic landmark for generations.
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The vertical lift bridge, constructed in 1935 by Braithwaite and Co (India) Ltd of Calcutta, spans the River Dikhow on AT Road and represents a significant piece of Assam's colonial-era infrastructure. The steel structure, measuring 159 metres in length and 4.88 metres in width, was originally designed with a 31-metre mid-span that could be lifted to allow ships to pass through — a mechanism that facilitated tradeduring British rule.
During the East India Company era, it served as a vital link in the transportation network, with machinery and tea being shipped between Nazira town and Kolkata via the Dikhow and Brahmaputra rivers. The lifting mechanism, once the bridge's most distinctive feature, has become non-functional over the decades.
However, the bridge's future became uncertain when a handful of citizens recently submitted a memorandum to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma requesting its demolition and replacement with a new structure.
The proposal has triggered widespread opposition from various quarters of society.
"We demand the preservation of this heritage bridge. Any step to dismantle the bridge will be opposed. Its demolition would mean erasing a chapter of Assam's history," said Rupak Bhuyan, president of Gana Kantha, Sivasagar, whose organisation recently submitted a memorandum to the CM calling for the bridge's renovation.
Currently, the bridge serves limited vehicular traffic, having been closed to four-wheelers after state govt constructed a parallel bridge.
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Nevertheless, it remains accessible to pedestrians and two-wheelers, though usage has declined over the years. The structure has found new life as a popular photography and selfie destination for visitors to Sivasagar.
Residents recall the bridge's golden years when it bustled with activity, serving as a crucial artery for commerce and daily life.
"This bridge has witnessed generations of our families crossing it.
It's more than just a infrastructure, it's part of our collective memory. It represents our historical connection to the past and must be protected for future generations," said Manoj Kumar Borthakur, president of Sivasagar Citizens' Forum.
The controversy has drawn attention from across the political spectrum. Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has publicly said he "won't allow the dismantling of the British-era Dikhow bridge", while Congress leader and Nazira MLA Debabrata Saikia, who serves as leader of the opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, has written to CM Sarma advocating for the bridge's preservation.
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