Guwahati, 15 September (HS): The old rail-cum-road Saraighat Bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati was reopened to vehicular traffic on Tuesday after remaining closed for repair and maintenance work. The bridge was reopened at 12:30 pm, providing major relief to commuters travelling between Guwahati and North Guwahati.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) had closed the bridge on July 13 for essential structural maintenance. The prolonged closure led to increased traffic pressure on alternative routes, particularly the new Saraighat Bridge, resulting in frequent congestion and inconvenience to commuters.

With the old bridge now restored to vehicular traffic, traffic movement between Guwahati and North Guwahati is expected to improve significantly. The reopening will also distribute vehicular traffic between the old and new Saraighat bridges, easing congestion and facilitating smoother movement across the Brahmaputra.

The old Saraighat Bridge is a crucial transport link connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati and has long played an important role in the city's road and rail connectivity.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash