Prime Minister inaugurates Bogibeel bridge construction
The fourth and the longest bridge over the Brahmaputra, when completed, will usher in an era of development in the NE. 

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee inaugurated the construction of the much awaited Bogibeel rail cum-road bridge over river Brahmaputra by pressing a button at exactly 4 pm on April 21 at Dibrugarh, about 17 kms. Away from the proposed site of the bridge. Also present on the occasion was Union Minister for Railway Nitish Kumar, Assam Governor S.K. Sinha, Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, Railway Board chairman I.M.S. Rana and Minister for State for Railways Digvijay Singh.

Addressing a rally after the inauguration, Mr. Vajpayee expressed hope that the Bogibeel bridge, after completion, would usher in a new era of development in the region. He also assured the people of financial assistance and asked the chairman of the Railway Board to get the bridge quickly completed by six years, reduced from the proposed seven years time. The PM said that he has entrusted CM Tarun Gogoi to ensure that the work progresses smoothly and to ensure that the land is acquired and handed over to the Railway with due compensation to the landowners. Vajpayee said he had asked Nitish Kumar not to invite him for laying foundation stones but take him to those places where work was yet to start. “There are lot of foundation stones lying all around with nobody to look after them”, the PM remarked, with an obvious dig directed at previous governments for having not taken up the work on the bridge. One might recall that former PM, H.D. Deve Gowda had laid the foundation stone of the bridge in January 1997. But work could not be started as desired.

Declaring that he was associated with the Assam movement of the eighties, the PM said that he had a special relation with the State and had inaugurated the rail-cum-road bridge at Jogighopa. In trying to bridge relationship with Tarun Gogoi, the Chief Minister of a Congress governed state, the PM said that multi-party system is a truth that the country must accept and so setting aside petty differences, political parties should co-operate on matters of security and development and that there should be no compromise on national interest. “We must be sensible and committed and I firmly believe that if we all work together to achieve our goals, there will be no reason why the country and for that matter the North-East should lag behind”, opined the Prime Minister.

Railway Minister Nitish Kumar also took the opportunity to announce a Bihu bonanza for Assam. The Minister said that a survey had already been conducted to assess the feasibility of converting the Rangiya-Murkokselek meter gauge section on the north bank of the Brahmaputra to a broad gauge one. The Minister assured the people that he would soon seek the Planning Commission’s approval for the project, estimated at Rs. 800 crore. The next good news that the Minister announced was of installing two broad gauge tracks on the Bogibeel bridge instead of one to comply to the wish of the people. These announcements were greeted with great cheer and applause by the 10,000 strong crowd. “I assure you that work on the Bogibeel bridge project won’t stop for a single day. Provided the land acquisition process is expedited by the State Government,” said the Minister. Mr. Kumar also gave the figure of Rs. 6000 crore, the amount that was needed to improve the rail network in the North East in phases. The Minister also promised on the occasion that the long awaited gauge conversion between UJP and New Bongaigaon would be completed soon. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi appealed to the Prime Minister to take immediate necessary steps to start a peace process in Assam as has been done in Nagaland. The Assam Chief Minister also demanded an immediate intervention by the PM to help the State Government over its financial crisis. Also speaking on the occasion Union Minister for Development of NE region Arun Shourie said that the Centre was paying special attention for the development of the region. He said economic summits would be held in Mumbai and Kolkata in July to attract investors to the NE region.
                    
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