The Government of India has initiated the construction of two bridges in the state of Assam across the River Brahmaputra.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones of the two projects in a bid to improve road connectivity in the region, as well as with the neighbouring state of Meghalaya.

The first project involves building a 19km-long four-lane bridge between Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya. The project is estimated to cost around Rs49.97bn ($689.5m) and is expected to be completed in 2028.

Once complete, it will reduce the travel distance from 205km to 19km and will serve as an alternative link between various North-Eastern states with the rest of the country.

Ferry services are currently the only mode of transportation between Dhubri on the north bank and Phulbari on the south bank of the river.

The second bridge, to be developed at a cost of Rs9.25bn ($127.7m), will connect Jorhat to Majuli (Nemati ghat to Kamlabari ghat). The 6.8km-long bridge is expected to be completed by March 2025.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said that 91 road works, totalling 1,300km and with a combined worth of Rs80bn ($1.1bn), have been completed in Assam in the last six years.

He added that additional works worth Rs200bn ($2.76bn) will be completed by next year.

Last December, World Bank awarded a $500m loan to the Indian Government for the development of green national highway corridors across four states.