Historic Gammon Bridge in Silchar connects Tripura reopened after repair

Finally, after above month-long closure, the historic Gammon Bridge over the Barak River at Badarpur Ghat of neighbouring Assam reopened on Tuesday with a grand public ceremony, drawing cheers from citizens and officials. The event marked the completion of critical restoration work before schedule time.

Food, Public Distribution and Barak Valley Development Minister of Assam Kaushik Rai, addressing the gathering, credited Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership for the timely repair. “This bridge is the lifeline of Barak Valley. Through timely action, quality execution, and relentless supervision, we’ve turned a challenge into a milestone,” Rai said, while also thanking the public for their patience during the closure.

Public Works and Animal Husbandry Minister Krishnendu Paul echoed the sentiment, calling the reopening a proud moment for the region. “This is what real progress looks like — swift, sincere, and tangible. The bridge has not only reopened ahead of schedule but now stands reinforced with enhanced safety standards,” Paul said, expressing gratitude to engineers, workers, and local residents for their support.

The reopening of the Gammon Bridge is expected to bring significant relief to commuters across the Barak Valley and neighbouring states, restoring a vital conduit for trade, transport, and daily movement.

In a move to preserve the structural integrity of the repaired bridge, the Cachar district administration of Assam has imposed strict restrictions on heavy and modified vehicles. From July 19, vehicles exceeding 40 tonnes or fitted with unauthorised body modifications will be barred from crossing. The order, issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, follows technical assessments warning of potential risks to the bridge’s stability.

Joint enforcement checkpoints will be set up at Digarkhal on NH-06 and Dolu on NH-27, staffed by police, transport officials, and executive magistrates around the clock. Violators will face strict legal action.