Dhola–Sadiya Bridge

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}

{{Short description|Bridge between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India}}

{{Infobox Bridge

|name = Dhola–Sadiya Bridge

|official_name = Bhupen Hazarika Setu

|native_name =

|native_name_lang = as

|image = SMOOTHEST CURVE IN VIADUCTS MADE THROUGH SEGMENTS.JPG

|caption =

|image_size = 300px

|carries = Motor vehicles

|crosses = Lohit River

|locale = Dhola–Sadiya, Assam, India

|maint = Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

|builder = Navayuga Engineering

|id =

|designer =

|design = Beam bridge

|material =

|spans = 183

|pierswater =

|mainspan = {{cvt|50|m}}

|length = {{cvt|9.15|km}}

|width = {{cvt|12.9|m}}

|map_type =

|map_image =

|coordinates = {{coord|27|47|55|N|95|40|34|E|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|height =

|load =

|clearance =

|below =

|traffic =

|begin = November 2011

|complete = 10 March 2017

|open = 26 May 2017

|closed =

|toll =

|lat =

|long =

}}

The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, officially known as Bhupen Hazarika Bridge, is a beam bridge connecting the villages of Dhola and Sadiya in Tinsukia district of the Indian state of Assam. The bridge spans the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra, and provides access to Arunachal Pradesh, whose border lies a short distance from Sadiya.{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/dhola-sadiya-bridge-not-enough-china-still-miles-ahead-of-india-in-infrastructure-along-lac/articleshow/58879677.cms|title=Dhola-Sadiya bridge not enough, China still miles ahead of India in infrastructure along LAC|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=28 May 2017|first=Shaurya | last=Karanbir Gurung|access-date=15 June 2018}}{{cite press release|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=162117|title=Dhola-Sadiya: A Bridge of New Hope for the North East|work=Press Information Bureau|access-date=23 June 2017}} The bridge facilitates the first permanent road connection between the northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh.{{cite news|title=All you need to know about Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, India's longest river bridge|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dhola-sadiya-bridge-10-things-to-know/article18582536.ece|work=The Hindu|date=26 May 2017|access-date=1 June 2024}} At {{cvt|9.15|km}} in length, it is the second longest bridge in India over water.{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/longest-bridge-in-india-provides-a-quick-link-to-lac/|title=Longest bridge in India provides a quick link to LAC|work=The Indian Express|access-date=1 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dhola-sadia-river-bridge-and-unquiet-flows-the-brahmaputra/|title=The mighty Brahmaputra is the biggest hurdle to the country's longest bridge|work=The Indian Express|access-date=1 June 2024}}

With the bridge located close to the India-China border, the bridge is designed to facilitate the movement of Indian Armed Forces to the border state of Arunachal Pradesh.{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sadia-dhola-bridge-10-facts-about-indias-longest-bridge-on-the-brahmaputra-4672683/|title=Dhola Sadia bridge: 10 facts about India's longest bridge on the Brahmaputra|date=25 May 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=1 June 2025}} As China has disputed India's claim to Arunachal Pradesh, the bridge an important tactical asset in the ongoing dispute.{{cite web|author1=Subir Bhaumik|title=India opens longest bridge on China border|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40042438|work=BBC News|access-date=27 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527102322/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40042438|archive-date=27 May 2017|date=26 May 2017|quote=China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own, and refers to it as "southern Tibet". [...] "With China getting more and more aggressive, it is time we strengthened our physical infrastructure to defend our territory," India's junior Home Minister Khiren Rijiju, a native of Arunachal Pradesh, told journalists.}} The bridge has been designed to handle the weight of {{convert|60|t|lb|adj=on|abbr=off}} main battle tanks of the Indian Army.{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-longest-bridge-to-be-opened-by-pm-narendra-modi-in-assam-tomorrow-10-points-1703805|title=India's Longest Bridge, Built For Tanks, To Open In Assam Today: 10 Facts|work=NDTV|access-date=1 June 2025}}