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Geography, Geography, Environment & Ecology are important sections in any General Studies papers, including APSC Prelims GS Paper. but the number of Qs are gradually decreasing. Analyzing the previous years Qs from these section can be very helpful to understand Focus Areas to study more extensively.
Q14. As per 2011 Census, which of the following States showed a negative decadal growth rate of population?
We always recommend to start APSC Preparation with NCERT books. The importance of NCERT books in preparation of APSC/ UPSC/ TPSC and other exams can’t be over emphasized.
“NCERT books can be considered as the Preamble of the whole range of study materials for APSC/ UPSC/ other PSCs Civil Services exams preparation.”
Aspirants should always start their preparation from the NCERT textbooks of Class 6 to 12. It creates a very strong foundation of knowledge base required for clearing these exams. Most of the successful candidates recommends for judicious following of NCERT books for APSC/ UPSC/ other PSCs preparation. Aspirants should focus on the NCERT books for General Studies (GS), History + Art & Culture, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology etc for APSC Prelims and Mains Exams.
Why NCERT Books are BEST?
NCERT books are easily accessible and available for FREE to everyone from rural and urban candidates (“Make Competition Inclusive and Fair”)
NCERT books is simple and lucid language, as these are written for school students, so are very easy to understand topics and concepts.
NCERT books provides important basic information about the subjects/topic and mostly objective, reliable and unbiased.
APSC/ UPSC/ other PSCs and other agency regards NCERT books as authentic source for reference.
Rice contributes 95% of the total food grain production in Assam and is cultivated in three main seasons, viz. Ahu (February/March to June/July month), Sali (June/July to November/December month) and Boro (November/December to April/May month).
Of these three seasons, Sali occupies more area, which is flood prone. More than 23 districts suffers from flood chronically, which affects the productivity of rice severely and limit the total production.
To develop suitable high yielding varieties and production technology, specially for flood prone lowlands of Assam, Assam govt had requested the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi to consider establishing a sub-station of National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) in Assam to assist the state’s efforts on rice research.
The Regional Rain-fed Lowland Rice Research Station (RRLRRS) is a sub-station under ICAR-NRRI, established on September 15, 1997 at Gerua in the Hajo circle of the Kamrup district of Assam, upon request of the Assma Govt to consider establishing a sub-station of National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) in the state to assist it’s efforts on rice research, as NRRI plays a pivotal role in rice research of the country.
Main mandates of the ICAR-RRLRRS are
To conduct basic, strategic, applied and adaptive research on crop improvement, production and protection for increasing and stabilizing rice productivity in rainfed lowland ecosystem.
To explore, evaluate, conserve and exchange rice germplasm.
To develop high yielding and input responsive rice varieties resistant/tolerant to different biotic and abiotic stresses under rainfed lowland ecosystem.
To generate appropriate agronomic and protection technologies for increasing and sustaining the productivity of rice-based production systems under rainfed lowland ecosystem.
To import training to the farmers, field functionaries, extension specialists and research workers on improved rice production cropping and farming systems.
Trust Area of Research
Strengthening the breeding strategy to evolve suitable Sali varieties with tolerant to flood.
Development of short duration varieties with blast resistance and cold tolerance for Boro season.
Development of flood resistant rice varieties for lowland, semi-deep and deep water conditions.
Development of appropriate integrated insect pest and disease management strategies.
Salient Achievements
Released rice variety ‘Chandrama’ as Boro and Sali for Assam.
Released aromatic high yielding rice variety ‘CR Dhan 909’ as Sali crop for Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra and UP for irrigated and rainfed lowland ecology.
Rice varieties ‘Naveen’ have been identified suitable as pre-flood Ahu crop and ‘Abhishek’ as post-flood Sali rice crop.
Continual maintenance of over 830 Eastern Indian rice germplasm.
Use of pheromone traps @ 20/ha recorded the lowest incidence of dead heart (3.45%) and white ear head (2.01%).
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar released the biennial, India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) which has been mandated to assess the forest and tree resources of the country including wall-to-wall forest cover mapping in a biennial cycle. Starting 1987, 16 assessments have been completed so far. ISFR 2019 is the 16threport in the series.India is among few countries in the world where forest cover is consistently increasing.
Major Highlights
The total forest cover of the country is 7,12,249 sq km which is 21.67% of the geographical area of the country.
The tree cover of the country is estimated as 95,027 sq km which is 2.89% of the geographical area.
The total Forest and Tree cover of the country is 8,07,276 sq km which is 24.56% of the geographical area of the country.
The current assessment shows an increase of 3,976 sq km (0.56%) of forest cover, 1,212 sq km(1.29%) of tree cover and 5,188 sq km (0.65%) of forest and tree cover put together, at the national level as compared to the previous assessment i.e. ISFR 2017.
TOP 5 States in terms of increase in forest cover:
Karnataka (1,025 sq km)
Andhra Pradesh (990 sq km)
Kerala (823 sq km)
Jammu & Kashmir (371 sq km)
Himachal Pradesh(334 sq km)
Forest cover in the hill districts of the country is 2,84,006 sq km, which is 40.30% of the total geographical area of these districts. The current assessment shows an increase of 544 sq km(0.19%) in 140 hill districts of the country.
The total forest cover in the tribal districts is 4,22,351 sq km, which is 37.54% of the geographical area of these districts. The current assessment shows a decrease of 741 sq km of forest cover within the RFA/GW in the tribal districts and an increase of 1,922 sq km outside.
Mangrove cover in the country has increased by 54 sq km (1.10%) as compared to the previous assessment.
The total growing stock of wood in the country is estimated 5,915.76 million cum comprising 4,273.47 million cum inside forest areas and 1,642.29 million cum outside recorded forest areas (TOF). The average growing stock per hectare in forest has been estimated as 55.69 cum.
Total bamboo bearing area of the country is estimated as 1,60,037 sq km. There is an increase of 3,229 sq km in bamboo bearing area as compared to the estimate of ISFR 2017.
Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) represents the largest pool of carbon stock in forests, which has been estimated 4,004 million tonnes. The SOC contributes 56% to the total forest carbon stock of the country.
There are 62,466 wetlands covering 3.83% of the area within the RFA/GW of the country. The total number of wetlands located within the RFA/GW is 8.13%.
Amongst the States, Gujarat has largest area of wetlands within RFA in the country followed by West Bengal.
Dependence of fuelwood on forests is highest in the State of Maharashtra, whereas, for fodder,small timber and bamboo, dependence is highest in Madhya Pradesh. It has been assessed that the annual removal of the small timber by the people living in forest fringe villages is nearly 7% of the average annual yield of forests in the country.
TOP 5 States with largest forest cover (Area-wise)
Madhya Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Chhattisgarh
Odisha
Maharashtra.
TOP 5 States in terms of forest cover as a percentage of total geographical area
Mizoram (85.41%)
Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%)
Meghalaya (76.33%)
Manipur (75.46%)
Nagaland (75.31%)
Total Mangrove cover in the country is 4,975 sq km. An increase of 54 sq Km in mangrove cover has been observed as compared to the previous assessment of 2017.
Top three states showing mangrove cover increase are Gujarat (37 sq km) followed by Maharashtra (16 sq km) and Odisha (8 sq km).
The total growing stock of India’s forest and TOF is estimated 5,915.76 million cum of which 4,273.47 million cum is inside the forests and 1,642.29 million cum outside. There is an increase of 93.38 million cum of total growing stock, as compared to the previous assessment.
The extent of bamboo bearing area of the country has been estimated 16.00 million hectare. There is an increase of 0.32 million hectare in bamboo bearing area as compared to the last assessment of ISFR 2017. The total estimated green weight of bamboo culms is 278 million tonnes, slowly an increase of 88 million tonnes as compared to ISFR 2017.
Total carbon stock in country’s forest is estimated 7,124.6 million tonnes and there an increase of 42.6 million tonnes in the carbon stock of country as compared to the last assessment of 2017. The annual increase in the carbon stock is 21.3 million tonnes, which is 78.2 million tonnes CO2 eq.
FACTFILE - India State of Forest Report (ISFR)
The biannual report is prepared by The Forest Survey of India (FSI), a body under MoEFCC, which conducts surveys and assessment of forest resources in the country.
The information given in the report will serve as an important tool to monitor the country’s forest resources and plan suitable scientific and policy interventions for its management. It will also serve as a useful source of information for the policy makers, planners, State Forest Departments, line agencies involved in various developmental works, academicians, civil society and others interested in natural resource conservation and management.
The India State of Forest Report 2019 is 16th such report in the series. In line with the Government of India’s vision of Digital India and the consequent need for integration of digital data sets, the Forest Survey of India has adopted the vector boundary layers of various administrative units upto districts developed by Survey of India along with digital open series topo sheets, bringing about full compatibility with the geographical areas as reported in Census, 2011.
Forests play a vital role in water conservation and improve the water regime in the area. Considering the importance of water bodies in forest, FSI has assessed water bodies in forest cover for the decade 2005-2015. As per the assessment, there is an increase of 2,647 sq km in the extent of water bodies inside forest cover between 2005 to 2015.
The report contains information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock inside and outside the forest areas, carbon stock in India’s forests and forest cover in different patch size classes. Special thematic information on forest cover such as hill, tribal districts, and north eastern region has also been given separately in the report. The report for the first time contains information on decadal change in water bodies in forest during 2005-2015, forest fire, production of timber from outside forest, state wise carbon stock in different forest types and density classes.
Forest Survey of India (FSI) has been assessing the forest and tree resources of our country on a biennial basis since 1987. The results of the assessment are published in its biennial report titled “India State of Forest Report (ISFR)”.
The All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018 made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on occasion of Global Tiger Day on 29 July. As per the report, India has 2,967 tigers, which is about 33% more than in 2014.
PM Modi said, “With around 3,000 tigers, India has emerged as of one of the biggest and safest habitats for them in world. The country is proud to be home to almost 75% of the global tiger population”.
Highlights & Key Findings
Top 5 Performing States
Madhya Pradesh (526)
Karnataka (524)
Uttarakhand (442)
Maharashtra (312)
Tamil Nadu (264)
States that saw Decline in Tiger Population
Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.
While all other States saw a Positive increase.
Assam has a total of 190 Tigers.
Highest Number of Tigers in Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
Maximum Improvement in Tiger Population since 2014 is recorded in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.
4th cycle of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves (MEETR), which evaluates India’s 50 tiger sanctuaries was also released along with 4th National Tiger Estimation (Tiger census).
According to it, Pench sanctuary (MP) and Periyar sanctuary of Kerala emerged as best managed tiger reserves in country. Dampa Reserve (Mizoram) and Rajaji reserve (Uttarakhand) were left at bottom of ladder.
Chhattisgarh was least performing State in reserve management.
4th National Tiger Estimation (Tiger census)
It is 4th such tiger survey since 2006, conducted once in 4 years. Latest survey is culmination of 15 months of forest officials surveying 3,81,400 sq-km of forested habitat, installing 26,760 camera traps and wildlife biologists digging by 35 million images of wildlife. Nearly 83% of estimated tiger population was captured in these images.
India has been counting tigers and assessing habitat every four years since 2006. The 33% rise in tiger numbers is the highest ever recorded between four-year cycles. The growth was 21% during 2006-10 and 30% between 2010 and 2014.
The report does not contain numbers of other predators like leopards. But better tiger numbers are generally seen as indicating good prey bases and habitat.
Global Tiger Population
The world-wide population of wild tigers stands at around 3,950.
India has almost 75% of the total population.
Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh and Bhutan being key countries contributing to the remaining 25% count.
International Tiger Day
Global Tiger Day, often called International Tiger Day, is an annual celebration to raise awareness for tiger conservation, held annually on 29 July.
It was created in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.
The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.
Geographical Indication tagged products from Assam and North Eastern states
What is a geographical indication?
A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. GI tag sign identify a product as originating in a given place. In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. There is a clear link between the product and its original place of production.
Geographical Indications protection is granted through the TRIPS Agreement. India has a expeditious and efficient G I tagging mechanism.
India is the second largest producer of tea in the world, only after China. Most of the tea produced in India comes from North East India, especially Assam and Tripura. The Assam tea industry accounts for more than 50% of India’s total tea production. There are 848 registered tea estates in Assam.
Assam is the only region other than China which can boast of its own variety of native tea plant, Camellia sinensis assamica. Most of the tea plantations in Assam are situated at a near sea level height. and the whole area is endowed with a plenty of rainfall. The unique tropical climate of Assam imparts a special distinctive malty flavor, with a very strong body and bright color.
Robert Bruce in 1823 discovered tea plants growing wild in upper Brahmaputra Valley. A tea garden was started by the Government in 1833 in the then Lakhimpur district. The commercial circle of London took a keen interest in tea plantations in Assam and a company named as Assam Company was formed in 1839 to take over the holdings of the East India Company’s Administration over the tea gardens in Assam. This was the first company in India to undertake the commercial production of tea. Nazira was headquarters of this company until it was shifted to Calcutta in 1965.
The second important tea company, the Jorhat Tea Company was formed in 1859. To encourage tea plantation, the Government also made liberal provisions for the settlement of the waste land for tea cultivation.
In 1911, world’s first institute dedicated to tea research, the Toklai Research Station was established near Jorhat to carrying on research on cultivation and manufacture of tea. This facility has been very useful in disseminating knowledge for the increase of yield for the industry. The industry faced an acute crisis in 1930s, which was successfully averted by enacting the Indian Tea Control Act,1933, and instituting an International Tea Committee and Indian Tea Licensing Committee.
Marketing of tea has always been a problem for the products of this region, as previously the Tea Auction Centre at Calcutta was the only centre of sale for Assam Tea. The imposition of West Bengal Entry Tax on Assam Tea, transport bottlenecks and many more difficulties involved in arranging the sale at Calcutta Auction centre, necessitated the opening of the Tea Auction Centre in Assam. The Tea Auction Centre at Guwahati was opened on 25th Sept.1970, which started a new era for the tea industry of Assam.
From the very beginning of tea plantation in Assam, the planters have faced great difficulties in securing the necessary labour force. The experiment with immigrant Chinese labour in the early days proved a complete failure due to the high cost of requirement and maintenance and to the difficulties in their management. Local labourers were not available in sufficient number. It thus became necessary to bring labourers from other parts of India in large number to meet the labour demand due to expansion of the tea plantations in Assam. As a result of continuous inflow of immigrant labourers, tea garden communities now forms substantial share of Assam’s population.
In present time, the Assam Tea has a global reputation and commands significant share in the world Tea Market. Assam’s total area under tea cultivation accounts for more than half of the country’s total area under tea. Assam produces about 630- 700 million kg of tea, which is more than half of India’s tea production.
India produced around 1,279 million kg in 2017 and it consumes 70% of the produce. As a result, it has very little amount of surplus tea left for export and thus India ranks fourth in the list of tea exporters. Some of the well-known regional brand varieties India produces are the Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Dooars, Kangra etc.
Assam became the settling ground for many civilizations who came here through different routes as it was connected by land to many states and country. Negritos, Dravidians, Alpines, Tibeto Burmese and Aryans were the major races that made a settlement in Assam. They made Assam there home and came to be known as Asamese. The largest population in Assam is of the Tibeto Burmese origin like the Bodo tribe and Mishing tribe. Major tribes of Assam earn their livelihood through agriculture and by selling their handicrafts. Different types of tribes are famous for variety of handicrafts. Some are famous for handloom and some have mastered in metal of pottery works. Their languages too differ according to their place of origin.
Major tribes of Assam have their own rich cultural identity. And because of geographic unity and acceptability to change and mix, they added quintessence to Assamese folk music, thus forming the soul of it. All tribes has their own music hence, indigenous musical instruments, used in different festivals.
Important Tribal Communities/ Ethnic groups in Assam
Bodo Tribe
Bodo People were one of the earliest tribes to move to Assam. Today they constitute a large part of Assam population accounting to around 5.3%. They are not restricted to any specific area and are found in almost all parts of Assam. The speak Bodo language that is derived Tibeto Burmese family of language. Most of them are engaged in rice cultivation, tea plantation and poultry farming. Bodo Women engage themselves in weaving which has become a known culture of Bodo Tribe. Bodos were earlier known to worship their forefathers, however in recent times they have started practicing Hinduism and Bathouism.
Karbi People
Karbi tribe generally reside in hilly areas of Assam and form the major portion of population of Karbi Anglong district. They also inhabit places in North Cachar Hills, Nagaon and Sonitpur districts of Assam. They are mentioned as Mikir in the constitution of India.
Mishing Tribe
The Mishing Tribe belonging to Tibeto Burmese group have agriculture as their occupation. They inhabit districts of Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Sonitpur, Jorhat and Golaghat. Mishing people found the most fertile land on the banks of River Brahmaputra and settled on sides of the river. Though their production was great, frequent floods prevented them from climbing the economic ladder. The main festival of Mishing tribe is Ali-Lye-Ligangin the month of February which is the harvest festival. They speak language known as Mishing language.
Phake Tribe
Residing in Dirugarh and Tinsukia district of Assam, along Dihing river. They are said to have come here from Thailand in the late 18th century. They speak Assamese language as well as Phake language. These group is also known as Phakial and are a follower of Theravada Buddhism.
Dimasa
The Dimasa people or Dimasa-Kachari are part of the greater Kachari group, one of the ancient Kachari tribes. They live mostly in the northern half of the Dima Hasao District, an administrative district of the Indian state of Assam that includes the ravines of the Jatinga valley and adjoining land. Kacharis appear to be one of the earliest indigenous ethnic groups of north eastern India.
Kachari people
Kachari is a generic term applied to a number of ethnic groups predominantly in Assam speaking Tibeto-Burman languages or claiming a common ancestry. They are considered to have reached the Brahmaputra valley via Tibet or southern China and settled in the foothills of the eastern Himalayan range. That the Bodo-Kacharis were early colonizers of the river valleys is taken from the fact that most of the rivers in the Brahmaputra valley today carry Tibeto-Burman names—Dibang, Dihang, Dikhou, Dihing and others, where Di- means water in Dimasa dialect of Tibeto-Burman speaking language.
Based on an 1881 census, there were 19 groups within the Kachari classification: 1. Boro, 2. Dimasa, 3. Dhimal, 4. Garo, 5. Hajong, 6. Hojai(Dimasa), 7. Lalung(Tiwa), 8. Madani, 9.Mahalia, 10. Mech, 11. Matak, 12. Moran, 13. Phulgaria, 14. Rabha, 15. Sonowal, 16.Sutiya, 17. Saraniya, 18. Solaimiya and 19. Tipra- Jamatia, Bru , Mogs, Uchai, Noatia, Debbarma
Khamti people
The Khamti, or Tai Khamti, are a sub-group of the Shan people found in theSagaing Division, Hkamti District in northwestern Burma as well as Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Smaller numbers can be found in parts of Assam as well as the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Khamyang people
Khamyang, also known as Shyam, is a tribal group found primarily in Tinsukia, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts of Assam as well as adjacent parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Their population totals about 3,500 of which only a small minority speak the native Tai Khamyang language. The Khamyang are followers of Theravada Buddhism and are closely related to the Khampti.
Khelma people
The Khelma are one of the old Kuki tribes of Northeastern parts of India. The Khelma tribe is one of the smallest tribes in the Old Kuki community. They mainly inhabit in the areas of Assam’s Dima Hasao, Cachar and Karbi Anglong districts.
Rabha tribe
Rabha is a little known Scheduled Tribe community of West Bengal and Assam. In Assam, the Rabhas live mostly in Goalpara and Kamrup districts.The Rabhas belong to the Indo-Mongoloid group of people and have similarities with other members of Bodo group such as Garos, Kachari, Mech, Koch,Hajong and others.
Tai Aiton people
Tai Aitons are one among the six Indigenous Tai communities of Assam. They are Buddhist by religion. They came to Assam far back in the 16th-17th century from the east crossing the Patkai hills. Presently they live in small pockets in Upper Assam along with the Turungand Khamyang people.
Tea-tribes
The Tea-tribes are found mainly in the districts of Darrang, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj Tinsukia and almost all the districts of Assam in India. They were brought in by the colonial planters (British) as indentured labourers from the Chhota Nagpur Plateau region.
According to the 2001 census, the Scheduled Tribes population as in percentage of the total population of Assam was 12.4 percent. The Assam Tribune reported in 2009 that the tribal communities of Assam now officially account for 15.64 percent of the total population.
The Constitution of India categorizes the tribes of Assam into two groups:Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and Scheduled Tribes (Plains). Since hills tribes living in the plains and plains tribes living in the hills in large numbers are not recognised as scheduled tribes in the respective places, the census data may not reflect the correct figures. The Assam Tribune has claimed that if these categories of tribes are counted the actual population. Assamese language is used as the lingua franca by most of the tribes.
Assam is the gateway of Northeast India and there is a necessity for improved transportation in the State is essential for development in the Northeast region. Assam comprises of approximately 40342 km of road network including 2841 km of national highway.
Assam has a total length of National Highways of 3900 Km. This includes 15 number of newly declared NHs for a length of 1032 km. Additionally, 847 km of road stretches have already been approved “in principle” as new NHs and another 1253 km of state roads have been identified to be upgraded to National Highway.
Guwahati has good quality roads that are accessible and connected with major cities and towns in India. The Assam State Transport Corporation and other private operators run regular bus services in the state.
National Highways in Assam
There are 39 National Highways running through Assam. A length of 2541 Km under Assam PWD, National Highway, a length of 696 Km under National Highway Authority of India, and 399 Km under National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
31 Km is under Border Road Organization (BRO), 13 Km under Railways, 25 Km under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and around 192 Km were newly declared as NHs but yet to be entrusted.
Important Bridges in Assam
The Mighty Brahmaputra River is the longest river in Assam, there are 6 rail and road bridges have been constructed over the Brahmaputra in Assam and four new bridges are proposed.
Dhola Sadiya Bridge of 9.15 km length
Dhola Sadiya Bridge or Bhupen Hazarika Bridge across the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River, is the longest bridge in India. The 9.15 kilometres long road bridge inaugurated on 26 May 2017 by PM Narendra Modi.
It is a beam bridge connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge is the first permanent road connection between the northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh.
Bogibeel Bridge of 4.94 km length
The Bogibeel Bridge across the Brahmaputra river in Dibrugarh is the longest road and rail bridge in India. The 4.94 kilometres long road cum rail bridge connects Dhemaji district and Dibrugarh district of Assam.
This is also Asia’s 2nd longest rail-cum-road bridge and second longest bridge in Assam after Bhupen Hazarika Bridge. It is the 5th longest bridge in India after Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Dibang River Bridge, Mahatma Gandhi Setu and Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
It is situated in an earthquake-prone area it is India’s first bridge to have fully welded steel-concrete support beams that can withstand earthquakes of magnitudes up to 7 on the Richter Scale. It has a serviceable period of around 120 years.
Kolia Bhomora Bridge
Kolia Bhomora Setu is a 3.15 km long road bridge over the Brahmaputra river near Tezpur, connecting Sonitpur with Nagaon. The bridge is one of the most important link between the North Eastern states and rest of India.
It is named after the Ahom General Kolia Bhomora Phukan. The bridge falls on route of National Highway 715, previously known as NH-37A.
Naranarayan Bridge of 2.3 Km
Naranarayan Setu is an important road cum rail bridge over the Brahmaputra river in Assam, connects Jogighopa with Pancharatna. The double deck bridge is listed as one of the most impressive rail cum road bridges of India.
It is the third bridge to have been constructed over the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It connects Jogighopa of Bongaigaon District on the north with Pancharatna of Goalpara District on the south. It is named after Nara Narayan, a 16th-century Koch king.
New Saraighat Bridge of Guwahati
The 1.5 km long new Saraighat Bridge near the old Saraighat rail cum road Bridge. The second bridge on Brahmaputra river at Saraighat was inaugurated in year 2017.
Saraighat Bridge
Saraighat Bridge in Guwahati is the first rail cum road bridge over mighty Brahmaputra river in Assam. The Saraighat Bridge over the river Brahmaputra links North East region with the rest of the country. The length of the bridge is 1492 meters.
The idea of constructing a bridge over the Brahmaputra was first mooted in 1910 and the thought gathered momentum during the Second World War. The bridge was built between 1959 and 1962 by Hindustan Construction Company at a cost of Rs 10.6 crore at that time.. The bridge was completed in September 1962.
Bridged under construction
Assam-Meghalaya river bridge of 19.3 km – Longest river bridge
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM Modi, approved construction of four-lane bridge including approaches over river Brahmaputra between Dhubri on the north bank and Phulbari on south bank on NH-127 B in the Assam/Meghalaya.
The total length of the bridge will be 19.3 Km, India’s longest river bridge. It will be built under the scheme of North-East Road Network Connectivity Project Phase-03’ under loan assistance with JICA at the total capital cost of Rs 4,997.04 crore. The project is expected to be complete by 2026-27.
Positive impact of the bridge
Beside from boosting road connectivity, the project will also have strategic and socio-economic importance.
The bridge will cut down travel distance from 205.3 Km to only 19.3 Km and will reduce travel time from five hours to 20 minutes between Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya.
It will provide the shortest link between the western regions of Meghalaya as well as Barak valley region of Assam and southern states in NE namely Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura and the rest of the country, including the ports of Kolkata.
Aviation sector of India is growing at a very fast pace. Along with the whole country, civil aviation is also increasing rapidly in the North-Eastern states and thus Six airports from this region makes the list of top fifty busiest airports of India. India’s busiest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, followed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport of Mumbai and Kempegowda International Airport of Bengaluru.
List of the busiest airports from Assam and NE states by total passenger traffic for fiscal year 2017-18, i.e. April 2017 – March 2018.
All Indian Rank
Name
State
Passengers FY 2017-18
13
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
Assam
4,668,053
34
Agartala Airport
Tripura
1,379,090
38
Imphal Airport
Manipur
987,506
45
Silchar Airport
Assam
366,955
48
Dibrugarh Airport
Assam
336,851
49
Lengpui Airport
Mizoram
295,379
Recently, Airports of Assam and other North-East India also recorded among the fastest growing airport of India.
Ranking of the Airport from Assam and NE among the fastest growing Airport of India.
