Bridges and Setus Making Headlines in 2025

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In 2025, several bridges and setus (bridges in Hindi) across India are making headlines for their impressive designs and major upgrades. These engineering marvels are not only enhancing connectivity but also playing a key role in improving travel and trade.

From the iconic Pamban Rail Bridge to new and ambitious projects, India’s infrastructure is evolving rapidly. Let’s explore the latest updates on these significant bridges and setus shaping the nation’s future.

🔰 Explore the Latest 2025 Current Affairs and Updates Here!

Important Bridges and Setus in India: Major Developments in 2025

January 2025

  • India’s first glass bridge over the sea was inaugurated in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
  • Indian Railways conducts a trial run on Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge in Reasi, J&K.

More About Anji Khad Bridge

  • Anji Khad Bridge is located in Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir and is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project to boost regional connectivity and economic growth.
  • It is India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, connecting the Katra and Reasi sections of the USBRL project.
  • The USBRL project spans 272 km and is commissioned by Northern Railways (New Delhi).
  • The bridge is being executed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Hindustan Construction Company (Mumbai).
  • India’s second-highest railway bridge, after Chenab Bridge, which holds the world record at 359 meters above the riverbed.
  • Anji Khad Bridge features a single pylon rising 331 meters above the riverbed.
  • Total length of the bridge: 725.5 meters.

January – December 2024

  • India’s first vertical lift rail bridge at Pamban, spanning 2.05 km, is being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited to restore connectivity between Rameshwaram Island and the mainland.
  • Kaksar Bridge Renamed: Kaksar Bridge was renamed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj Setu to honor his sacrifice during the Kargil War.
  • Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have created the first undersea map of the submerged ‘Ram Setu’ with NASA’s ICESat-2.
  • Hungary has inaugurated a pedestrian bridge, ‘The Bridge of National Unity’, connecting SzĂĄr Hill and VĂĄr Hill.
  • Indian Railways has conducted a trial run on the world’s highest steel arch rail bridge, the Chenab Bridge, in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Recently, Uttar Pradesh has unveiled its first-ever glass skywalk bridge at Tulsi (Shabari) Waterfall.
  • The new Zuari Bridge has become fully operational in Goa.
  • Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren inaugurated the state’s longest bridge, “Dishom Guru Shibu Soren Setu,” over the Mayurakshi River.
  • The Union cabinet approved the construction of a new 4556 m long, 6-lane High Level/ Extra Dosed Cable Stay Bridge across River Ganga in Bihar, connecting Patna-Saran districts.
  • The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, is 21.8 km long.
  • The place believed to be the starting point of the Ram Setu is Arichal Munai.
  • The PM laid the foundation stone of a six-lane bridge across the River Ganga, part of the Patna Ring Road. Additionally, the Union Cabinet approved the construction of a new 4.56 km long, six-lane bridge connecting Patna’s Digha and Sonepur.
  • The Francis Scott Key Bridge, which recently collapsed, is located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
  • PM Narendra Modi inaugurated “Sudarshan Setu,” a 2.32 km-long bridge connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka island in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat.
  • External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar recently inaugurated the Buzi Bridge in Mozambique.

Bridge Related Schemes

Setu Bandhan Scheme

  • Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has disclosed the approval of 7 crucial bridge projects in Arunachal Pradesh under the Setu Bandhan Scheme under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
  • These projects, costing a total of Rs 118.50 Crores, are set to be implemented in the fiscal year 2023-24.

Understanding the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF)

  • The Central Road and Infrastructure Fund, formerly known as the Central Road Fund, was established in 2000 under the Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
  • This fund is formed by a cess imposed along with excise duty on petrol and diesel.
  • Initially overseen by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, its administrative control now falls under the Ministry of Finance.

Insight into Setu Bandhan Scheme

  • The “Setu Bandhan Scheme” is an initiative by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Its primary goal is to support the construction of Rail Over Bridges (ROBs), Rail Under Bridges (RUBs), and Bridges on State Roads.
  • This initiative is strategically designed to improve road safety by replacing existing level crossings with bridges. Ultimately, the aim is to reduce accidents at these locations.

Key Facts About “Latest Bridges in News”

Devak Bridge

Devak Bridge is a strategically important bridge over the Devak River in Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated it in February 2023.

Key Facts:

  • Length: 422.9 meters (1387 feet)
  • Location: Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur Road, close to the Indo-Pak international border
  • Strategic Significance: Enhances connectivity and mobility for the armed forces in the border region
  • Construction: Undertaken by Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
  • Inauguration: Part of a larger inauguration of 90 BRO infrastructure projects worth ₹2,941 crores

Maitri Setu (Friendship Bridge)

  • Maitri Setu, meaning “Friendship Bridge,” is a 150-meter (490-foot) bridge.
  • It spans the Feni River and connects Tripura in India with Chittagong port in Bangladesh.
  • The bridge serves as a shorter and more cost-effective land route between India’s eastern and western states compared to the longer route through Assam.
  • It was officially opened to the public on March 9, 2021, by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
  • The construction and maintenance of the Maitri Setu are carried out by NHIDCL (National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited).

Bhagat Bridge

  • Bhagat Bridge is a 115-foot-long bridge located at the Line of Control (LoC) in Machhal Sector, Kupwara District, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
  • It was inaugurated on the eve of Independence Day by the Indian Army.
  • The bridge connects Danna Village, the last village in the Machhal Sector, with the rest of the region.
  • It is named after the late Major Bhagat Singh, Veer Chakra, who sacrificed his life to defend this sector during the 1965 war.
  • Danna Village is also commonly known as Bhagat Village in memory of Major Bhagat Singh.
  • Sepoy Mian Gul Khan, a 1971 war veteran, dedicated the bridge to the villagers in the presence of senior army officials and local dignitaries.

Durgam Cheruvu Bridge

  • The Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, is an extra-dosed bridge situated near Madhapur’s Inorbit Mall.
  • Its purpose is to connect Jubilee Hills with the Financial District, alleviating traffic congestion to Madhapur across Durgam Cheruvu.
  • Recently, the cable-stayed hanging bridge over Durgam Cheruvu won an award for its unique design.

Anji Khad Bridge

  • The Anji Khad bridge is currently being constructed to connect the Katra and Reasi sections of the Jammu-Baramulla railway line over the Anji River.
  • Initially, an arch bridge design resembling the Chenab Bridge arch design was proposed, but it was rejected.
  • Instead, a new design for a cable-stayed bridge was approved, which will make it India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. The Hindustan Construction Company is building the bridge.

Siyom bridge

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the Siyom Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The completion of infrastructure projects, including the Siyom bridge, by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) will enhance the Indian military’s capability to swiftly and efficiently move troops and supplies to border areas.

Bailey Suspension Bridge (Maitri Setu)

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh e-inaugurated the newly rebuilt 240 ft Bailey Suspension Bridge (BSB).
  • The bridge, also known as Maitri Setu, was built over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has signed an MoU with Kerala Electrical & Allied Engineering (KEL) to jointly research and develop the lightweight Bailey bridge.

Bajrang Setu

  • Asia’s second and country’s first cable suspension bridge, Bajrang Setu, is being constructed at Rishikesh.
  • This bridge is coming up next to the famous 90-year-old Laxman Jhula.

New Pamban Bridge

  • It is India’s first vertical lift sea bridge.
  • The total length of the Bridge is 2.078 Km.
  • The estimated cost of the project is â‚š279.63 crore.
  • The bridge is set to replace the iconic Pamban bridge.
  • The Pamban Bridge is the first sea bridge in India, which was opened in 1914.
  • The new bridge has a 72-meter-long vertical lift span, which can be lifted by 17 meters to allow ships to pass under it.
  • It connects the town of Mandapam in mainland India with Rameswaram on Pamban Island.

New Zuari bridge

  • Recently, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the New Zuari Bridge located in Goa.
  • It is the second-largest cable-stayed bridge in India.
  • The bridge is located over the  Zuari River on the Panaji–Margao stretch of the National Highway 66. 
  • This bridge will be used as an expressway between Panaji and Margao.

Rajkot Under-Bridge

  • An under-bridge in Rajkot, Gujarat, has been named after General Bipin Rawat to honour the country’s first Chief of Defense Staff.
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel virtually inaugurated the under-bridge located in Laxmi Nagar.

Anji Khad Bridge

  • The country’s first cable-stayed bridge over the Anji River (a tributary of the Chenab River).
  • The bridge is located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
  • Recently, Indian Railways shared new images of the country’s first cable-stayed Anji Khad Bridge.
  • It connects the Katra and Reasi Sections of the Jammu–Baramulla line.

Jhula Bailey Suspension Bridge

  • Recently, the Jhula Bailey Suspension Bridge was inaugurated at Jammu & Kashmir’s Ramban.
  • The bridge is built over the Chenab River.
  • It connects the old town of Ramban with the district administrative complex Maitra Ramban.

Mahatma Gandhi Setu

  • It is India’s longest steel bridge, which was built over the Ganga River.
  • It is also known as “Ganga Setu”, connecting National Highways 22 and 31.
  • Its length is 5.7Km and it is the third-longest river bridge in India.

Setu/Bridge Related Current Affairs 2022-23

Miscellaneous One-liners India

  • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 14.5 km long rail-cum-road-bridge over the river Ganga in Bihar.
  • Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has signed an MOU with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Kolkata, to construct 27 bridges in border areas.
  • Meghalaya’s living root bridges have found a place in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites under UNESCO.
  • Recently, the ‘Golden Joint’ of the Chenab Railway bridge was inaugurated in the Reasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • PM, Modi inaugurated the 300 meters long pedestrian-only “Atal Bridge” over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad.
  • Recently, at least 141 people were killed when a British-era pedestrian suspension bridge built over the Machu River, called Jhulto Pul, collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi district.
  • Recently, the central government approved the construction of a cable-stayed-cum-suspension bridge over the Krishna River that will connect Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Recently, the Indian Army started construction of a 90-foot-long Bailey Bridge over the river Sukhtawa in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Pangong Tso, the disputed lake between India and China, is in the news for China to build a bridge.
  • Vietnam has just opened the world’s longest glass-bottomed bridge known as the Bach Long pedestrian bridge.
  • Recently, the Czech Republic opened the world’s longest suspension footbridge, named “Sky Bridge 721.”
  • India and Nepal signed an MoU to construct a motorable Bridge over the Mahakali River, connecting Dharchula (India) with Darchula (Nepal).
  • The world’s longest suspension bridge over the Dardanelles Strait was inaugurated by Turkey.
  • Recently, the Padma Bridge was inaugurated in Bangladesh, the longest river bridge in Bangladesh built over the Padma River.
  • The Kerch Bridge, also called the Kerch Strait Bridge, was recently featured in the news. The bridge connects Russia with Crimea.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Which city in India is known as “Bridge City”?

Answer: Surat

Q2. Which is the longest steel bridge in India?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi Setu

Q3. Who is known as the Bridgeman of India?

Answer: Girish Bharadwaj (Karnataka)

Q4. Which is the world’s highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge?

Answer: The Bach Long pedestrian bridge in Vietnam

Q5. What is the name of the world’s longest suspension footbridge, opened by the Czech Republic?

Answer: Sky Bridge 721

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