The Longest Bridges Above Water In India

1.Bhupen Hazarika Setu 

The longest bridge in India is the 9,150 meters long Bhupen Hazarika Setu, a beam bridge that connects Assam with Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge spans the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River. The newly inaugurated bridge was built to ensure connectivity between eastern Arunachal Pradesh and upper Assam. The bridge was inaugurated on May 26, 2017 by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. It is named after the famous Assamese musician and lyricist, Bhupen Hazarika. 

2.Mahatma Gandhi Setu 

Also known as the Gandhi Setu or the Ganga Setu, the bridge spans the Ganga River connecting Bihar’s capital city Patna in the south to northern Bihar’s Hajipur. The bridge was inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi in 1982. The bridge is one of the busiest bridges in the country and experiences major traffic chaos and accidents necessitating the need to construct new bridges in a parallel direction. The bridge is 5,750 long.

3.Bandra–Worli Sea Link

Also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, the bridge links Worli in South Mumbai with Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai. The bridge was opened in sections between June 30, 2009, and March 24, 2010. The average daily traffic on the bridge is about 37,500 vehicles. The bridge is 5,575 meters long, making it the third longest bridge in India.

4.Vikramshila Setu

The Vikramshila Setu runs across the Ganges from Barari Ghat, Bhagalpur on the south bank to Naugachia on the north bank, connecting NH80 with NH31 across the river in the Bihar state of India. The bridge has helped reduce the distance between the two places but remains highly congested during rush hours. The Vikramshila Setu is 4,700 meters long. It was opened on 2001.

5.Vembanad Rail Bridge

The Vembanad Rail Bridge, the longest railway bridge in India, crosses the Vembanad Lake connecting Vallarpadam with Edappally in Kochi. The construction of the bridge was completed on March 31, 2010. 80% of the bridge passes over water. It is the fifth longest bridge in India.

6.Digha–Sonpur Rail–road Bridge

Also known as the J.P. Setu, the bridge spans the river Ganga, connecting the Pahleja Ghat in Sonpur, Saran district to the Digha Ghat in Patna in the Bihar state of India. The rail-road steel girder bridge was inaugurated on February 3, 2016. The bridge is 4,556 meters long.

7.Arrah–Chhapra Bridge

Also known as the Veer Kunwar Singh Setu, the bridge spans the Ganga connecting Chhapra in Bihar’s Saran district with Arrah in the Bhojpur district. The bridge was inaugurated as recently as June 11, 2017. It is 4,350 meters long. It is the seventh-longest bridge in India.

8.Godavari Bridge 

Also known as the Kovvur–Rajahmundry Bridge, the bridge spans the Godavari River in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. It is the third longest rail-cum-road bridge in Asia. The Godavari Bridge is 4,135 meters long. It serves as one of the recognized symbols of Rajahmundry. It features a road deck above a single-track rail deck.

9.Munger Ganga Bridge

The Munger Ganga Bridge, a rail-cum-road bridge spans the Ganga River at Munger in Bihar. The bridge was opened on March 12, 2016. The bridge runs for a length of 3,692 meters.

10.Chahlari Ghat Bridge

Also known as the Chahlari Ghat Setu, the bridge spans the river Ghaghra. It connects Bahraich to Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, India. The bridge is 3,260 meters long, making it India’s 10th longest bridge. It was opened on February 2017.