PM Modi Unveils India’s Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge; Know About Sudarshan Setu Adorned With Verses From Bhagavad Gita

Dwarka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled ‘Sudarshan Setu’, India’s longest cable-stayed bridge in Gujarat’s Dwarka.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the inauguration ceremony of the bridge, which was earlier known as the ‘Signature Bridge’.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Sudarshan Setu, country’s longest cable-stayed bridge of around 2.32 km, connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. pic.twitter.com/4OpY0ekCDH

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

PM Modi had laid its foundation stone in October 2017, saying that it will serve as a link between old and new Dwarka and eliminate the need for boat transport.

Ahead of the inauguration of the bridge, PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Tomorrow is a special day for Gujarat’s growth trajectory. Among the several projects being inaugurated is the Sudarshan Setu, connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. This is a stunning project which will enhance connectivity.”

THE BRIDGE

Constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 980 crore, the 2.32 km bridge links Okha mainland with Beyt Dwarka island. It is significant for local residents and pilgrims visiting the Dwarkadhish Temple, which is located on Beyt Dwarka, an island near the Okha port and about 30 km from Dwarka town.

Before its construction, pilgrims had to rely on boat transport to reach the Dwarkadhish Temple in Beyt, Dwarka.

The bridge has a width of 27.20 metres with 2.50-metre-wide footpaths on both the sides with verses from Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna. There are also solar panels on the upper portions of the footpath, generating one megawatt of electricity.

Later this afternoon, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate Gujarat’s first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot. He will also virtually inaugurate four other newly-built AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.