Photographs: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters
If you look at the 10 longest bridges in India constructed above water, Bihar has four of them. Andhra Pradesh comes next with two.
However, if you consider all the bridges in the country constructed above water and measuring over 500 metres, there are about 43 of them.
Of these, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of such bridges - seven.
Bihar, on the other hand, comes second with six.
Let’s look at the longest bridges in India and the states where they belong.
Source: Wikipedia
Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Rank: 1
Spanning over: Mahim Bay
Length: 5,600 metres
Completed in the year: 2009
Traffic: Road
State: Maharashtra
City: Mumbai
It took 10 years to build the bridge and about $325 million. It is developed to ease the notorious traffic jam of Mumbai and connects western suburbs (Bandra) to South Mumbai (Worli).
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The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Mahatma Gandhi Setu
Spanning over: Ganges
Length: 5,575 metres
Completed in the year: 1982
Traffic: Road
State: Bihar
City: Patna
It used to be the longest river bridge before Bandra-Worli Sea Link was inaugurated. Constructed in 1982, the bridge connects Patna in the south to Hajipur in the north of Bihar. It is part of the National Highway 19.
Before the bridge was constructed, people used to take small boats to travel from one side of the river bank to the other.
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The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Www.amit213/Wikimedia Commons
Vikramshila Setu
Spanning over: Ganges
Length: 4,700 metres
Completed in the year: 2001
Traffic: Road
State: Bihar
City: Bhagalpur
Part of the National Highway, the bridge connects Bhagalpur (south) to Naugachia (north) and serves as a link between NH80 and NH31.
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The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Rash9745/Wikimedia Commons
Vembanad Rail Bridge
Spanning over: Vembanad Lake
Length: 4,620 metres
Completed in the year: 2011
Traffic: Rail
State: Kerala
City: Kochi
The longest rail bridge in India connects Edappally and Vallarpadam. However, passenger trains do not ply on this bridge as it is dedicated solely for freight.
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The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Nehru Setu
Spanning over: Son River
Length: 3,064 metres
Completed in the year: 1900
Traffic: Rail
State: Bihar
City: Son Nagar
Earlier called as Upper Son Bridge, it connects Dehri-on-Son and Son Nagar. When it was built in 1900, it was believed to be the second longest bridge in the world.
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The image is for representation purpose only.
The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Reuters
Jawahar Setu
Spanning over: Son River
Length: 3,061 metres
Completed in the year: 1965
Traffic: Road
State: Bihar
City: Son Nagar
Parallel to Nehru Setu over Son River is Jawahar Setu bridge. It connects the same two areas - Dehri-on-Son and Son Nagar.
It was part of the Grant Trunk Road, which is South Asia's oldest and longest major roads that connected Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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The image is for representation purpose only.
The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Tezpur4u/Wikimedia Commons
Kolia Bhomora Setu
Spanning over: Brahmaputra River
Length: 3,015 metres
Completed in the year: 1987
Traffic: Road
State: Assam
City: Tezpur
It took six years to construct the bridge that connects Sonitpur on the north bank with Nagaon District on the south bank.
The bridge has significantly helped in development of the North Eastern region of India.
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The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Dyamanna Badiger/Wikimedia Commons
Korthi-Kolhar Bridge
Spanning over: Krishna River
Length: 3,000 metres
Completed in the year: 2006
Traffic: Road
State: Karnataka
City: Bijapur
The bridge, which is part of the NH - 218,connects Bijapur and Hubli. It is the longest bridge in South India for vehicular traffic.
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The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Tatiraju.rishabh/Wikimedia Commons
Godavari Bridge
Spanning over: Godavari River
Length: 2,754 metres
Completed in the year: 1970
Traffic: Rail-cum-road
State: Andhra Pradesh
City: Rajahmundry
Asia’s second largest rail-cum-road bridge, it links east and west Godavari districts. The bridge was mainly constructed for trains running between Chennai and Howrah . The bridge has a road deck over the single-track rail deck. It is also known as Kovvur-Rajahmundry Bridge.
It is one among the three bridges running over Godavari in Rajahmundry. The other two include Old Godavari Bridge (also called as Havelock Bridge), which was decommissioned, and the newer Godavari Arch Bridge.
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The 10 longest bridges in India built above water
Photographs: Ramesh Ramaiah/Wikimedia Commons
Old Godavari Bridge (Decommissioned)
Spanning over: Godavari River
Length: 2,754 metres
Completed in the year: 1900
Traffic: Rail
State: Andhra Pradesh
City: Rajahmundry
Now decommissioned, Old Godavari Bridge was constructed to as part of network that would connect Howrah and Chennai by train.
It is one of the oldest bridges in the country which took three years to complete and was opened for traffic in 1900.
The Bridge was named after Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock, the then Governor of Madras.
After decommissioning, the bridge is now used to host civic water supplies.
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