Ex-Arunachal Pradesh CM appeals to PM to defer Bogibeel Bridge inauguration

Senior Congress leader and former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer the inauguration of Bogibeel Bridge as it is Christmas Day and as such it is difficult for people from Arunachal Pradesh to participate in the historic function.

"We are aware that you will be inaugurating the historic Bogibeel Bridge over the river Brahmaputra on December 25 this year. While I congratulate you for the completion of this historic bridge which is of strategic and economic importance to the region, I would at the same time like to request you to kindly defer the said inauguration to any other date as December 25 is Christmas and one of the most important festivals of the Christians," said Tuki in a letter addressed to the Prime minister on Thursday.

If the inauguration of the bridge, which is a boon to the people of Assam and Arunachal, takes place on December 25, a large number of people from the Christian community will not be able to participate in the opening ceremony. Therefore, I request you to defer the date of inauguration and thus enable all sections of people of the region to witness the historic event, the letter added.

The 4.98-km long bridge will be inaugurated by Prime Minister on December 25, which the BJP government is set to celebrate as Good Governance Day.

Built at an estimated cost of over Rs. 5000 crore, the Bogibeel Bridge will be the longest rail-cum-road bridge in the country and the second longest in Asia. The bridge will provide faster connectivity between the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The bridge will also enhance India's capability to ensure faster movement of troops and supplies to Arunachal Pradesh that borders with China.

The bridge, closely modelled on the Oresund bridge that connects Sweden and Finland across the Oresand strait, is designed to withstand heaviest of Indian battle tanks.

Meanwhile, a controversy has also erupted over the naming of the bridge. Many organisations in Assam are demanding the bridge be named after their icons or heroes.

--IANS

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