SUDARSHAN SETU – INDIA’S LONGEST CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE

On February 24th, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sudarshan Setu bridge over the Gulf of Kutch, linking Dwarka mainland to Beyt Dwarka Island in Gujarat.

Key Features:

1. Length: Spanning over 2 kilometers, it holds the title of India’s longest cable-stayed road bridge.
2. Previous Name: Initially known as the ‘Signature Bridge’, it was renamed Sudarshan Setu.
3. Project History: Sanctioned in 2017 with an estimated cost of ₹979 crores, managed by the Roads and Building Department of Gujarat, and constructed by Larsen & Toubro over a 6-year period.
4. Design Elements: Includes a 27-meter wide 4-lane bridge with a central double-span cable-stayed portion and a 2.45 km long approach road.
5. Enhanced Connectivity: Reduces the distance between old and new Dwarka by nearly 80 kilometers, facilitating easier access for tourists and pilgrims visiting the Dwarkadhish Temple.
6. Cultural Identity: The pedestrian footpaths are decorated with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna, reflecting the historical and religious importance of Dwarka.
7. Safety Measures: Employs advanced wind tunnel tested aerodynamic engineering to withstand extreme climate events like cyclones, ensuring resilience.

Additional Inaugurations:

1. Alongside Sudarshan Setu, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Gujarat’s first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot.
2. Virtually inaugurated four other newly-built AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

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