The Supreme Court will hear Naresh Balyan's plea challenging his bail denial. The Delhi High Court previously rejected his bail application in a MCOCA case. Balyan is accused of facilitating a crime syndicate run by gangster Kapil Sangwan. The high court found an active criminal nexus between
The Delhi High Court has sought responses from Abhijit Iyer Mitra and others. A Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson filed a plea alleging privacy violations. The court issued notices and summons regarding the disclosure of residential details. X, formerly Twitter
A Supreme Court Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has banned any construction or development within 100 metres of Jojari River in Rajasthan,hearing a suo motu case on Monday (August 24, 2026). The court also prohibited hazardous industries within 500 metres of the river’s flow path
The Congress party criticises the Modi government's aggressive privatisation agenda for India's space program. They question the rationale behind weakening ISRO's capabilities and transferring its assets. Reports indicate ISRO's role in rocket development will be severely limited by this new policy
Chlorine gas leak at a water treatment plant in Nagpur shortly after midnight on Monday (August 24, 2026) sent nearby residents running for safety and left many people gasping for breath, officials said. Several people were hospitalised after the leakage occurred in a 900-kg capacity chlorine gas
Bridges to Majuli: Connectivity push sparks outsider anxiety in Assam’s river island battleground
Majuli islanders anticipate the completion of new bridges connecting them to mainland Assam, hoping for improved access to healthcare and easier travel. While welcoming development, residents also express concerns about potential influx of outsiders impacting the island's unique cultural and spiritual identity.
Majuli: As she settles into a ferry with two of her granddaughters for a 90-minute journey to Majuli, Bhidyawati Payeng hopes the bridge rising over the Brahmaputra will be completed soon. It will not only connect the island with mainland Assam, it will also bring her daughter closer. Years of flood and erosion had pushed Payeng and her family to move to Jorhat city decades ago, but their bond with their home island was renewed a few years back when her daughter married a man from Majuli.
As MV Jahnavi glides past the pillars of the unfinished bridge, passengers on the deck slip into an animated debate. Some say the 8.25-km-long bridge should have been completed last year as planned; others take solace in the fact that work—which had been stalled after a change of contractors—resumed two months ago. The differing voices mirror the political divide in the ongoing campaign for the assembly election.
At a monastery called the Dakhinpat Satra, a few miles from the Aphalamukh ghat where the ferry docks, monk Dipen Pujari sums up the mood: it’s like a coin with two sides.
Also read:
“We welcome the new bridges on Majuli. The one under construction will make travel to cities like Jorhat and Dibrugarh easier,” he says. “But greater access also raises concerns about our security, as everyone arriving by ferry currently has to register their name and phone number.”
Multiple new bridges — including this mega one — are set to improve connectivity to Majuli, a 483 sq km island. Electors, like Payeng, welcome that. But many, like Pujari, are also concerned about an influx of outsiders.
The bridge under construction will eventually connect Majuli seamlessly to the south of Assam, while a new bridge at Dhunaguri, inaugurated just ahead of the election, has improved access to the north. Even so, people still have to take a ferry ride to reach the highway on the northern bank as a bridge project over the Subansiri river that would connect Majuli to Lakhimpur is delayed.
Majuli, a district in Assam and an assembly constituency reserved for scheduled tribes (STs), will vote on April 9. The BJP candidate and incumbent MLA Bhuban Gam faces a challenge from Congress’s Indraneel Pegu, a professor. Spread across nearly 1,250 sq km in 1950, Majuli—the world’s largest inhabited river island—has now shrunk to about a third of its size due to floods and erosion.
While the new infrastructure brings hope, the anxiety about outsiders—from migrant labourers to prospective settlers—bubbles to the surface.
“There is hardly any robbery on Majuli. I don’t even pull down the shutters of my restaurant. That may change if outsiders crowd in,” says Bipul Das of Kamalabari, the island’s business and spiritual hub. As his waiters serve Assamese thalis with fried fish and a local lemon called kaji nemu, he quickly adds that he supports the bridge projects—and their speedy completion. Better connectivity, he says, will ultimately make life and business easier for the islanders.
FARAWAY ISLAND
For decades, Majuli remained a distant and somewhat enigmatic place where dozens of Vaishnavite monasteries flourished, turning the island into a vibrant cultural and spiritual hub. Even as outsiders and the politics of identity dominated Assam’s political landscape, the island largely remained untouched by migrants, be it East Pakistan-origin Muslims, often called Miyas in the state, or Bangladeshi Hindus.Until about a decade ago, many prominent elders of the island had opposed the construction of bridges, fearing that greater connectivity would dilute Majuli’s uniqueness and disrupt its spiritual life.
The tide began to turn in 2016, when the island became the home constituency of the then chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He declared Majuli a district and sanctioned a series of new roads, bridges and educational institutions, which supporters of the ruling BJP now highlight in their campaign.
“The main problem we face is healthcare,” says Manoj Das, a resident of Dakhinpat, close to the stretch where the bridge’s first few pillars are coming up. “There have been instances where patients died because of lack of healthcare and transportation facilities. After all, ferry services end by evening,” he says, adding that completing the bridge should be the government’s utmost priority.
Safety, too, remains a constant concern, particularly due to the overcrowded ferries. Missing a ferry to or from the island often means waiting for nearly an hour on the riverbank, with little in the way of permanent shade.
Also read:
The risks became starkly evident in 2021, when a private ferry carrying nearly 100 passengers capsized and sank, forcing many to jump into the river and swim to safety. Three people lost their lives in the accident.
Since then, government officials have been stationed at the ghats to record the details of every passenger and ensure that boats are not overcrowded. A signboard of Do’s & Don’ts cautions passengers against taking selfies on the edge of a ferry and advises, in Assamese, “Nawat kazia ba thela hesa nakariba” — Don’t fight or push while on board.
While most boats can transport only three cars, a larger ferry like MV Jahnavi can accommodate up to 10 cars, along with 25-30 motorcycles and about 85 passengers. A passenger ticket costs ₹20, while motorcycles and cars are charged ₹40 and ₹600 each respectively.
Just as new roads, development projects, lack of medical facilities and demand for a speedy trial in the case of singer Zubeen Garg’s death have featured prominently in the island’s campaign, the upcoming bridges too have become a talking point in political rallies.
Addressing a large rally, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government would expand its Orunodoi Scheme in Majuli and extend monthly benefits to more women as new bridges improve connectivity. Striking a lighter note, he added, “Dalang hoi jowar pisat Jorhat aru Lakhimpurar parao bowari ahibo (Once the bridges are built, daughters-in-law will start coming from places like Jorhat and Lakhimpur too),” drawing peals of laughter from the crowd.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: majuli bridge project,brahmaputra connectivity,assam elections majuli,outsider fears majuli,river island erosion assam,ferry transport majuli,dakhinpat satra concerns
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said Bengal must emerge as a major investment destination as he highlighted the state's cooperation with the Centre in defence, infrastructure and industrial development. His remarks came as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Adhikari virtually
11 hours ago
BJP national general secretary Smriti Irani said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has remained responsive to youth concerns and shown that political differences can be set aside to improve government systems. BJP national general secretary Smriti Irani said the Prime Minister has been attentive to the
14 hours ago
In April 2025, the Modi government made a dramatic U-turn and announced that it would count caste in India’s next census. At the time, it made sure to take potshots at its predecessor, the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government, for not including caste in the 2011 census
14 hours ago
Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has sparked outrage after footage emerged of him leaving the dais during the National Anthem. Opposition leaders have called for his apology, questioning his respect for national sentiments. In his defense
14 hours ago
The upkeep of Delhi's iconic Lutyens bungalows, now nearly a century old, is becoming increasingly expensive - annual expenditure on the renovation, furnishing and repair of the official residences of Union Ministers touched a record high of ₹92.35 crore in 2025-26
1 days ago
Industrialist Gautam Adani met Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for an hour. Sources described the meeting as a courtesy visit while returning to the airport. The meeting occurred amid a proposed tunnel road project for which Adani Enterprises is the lowest bidder
1 days ago
Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda has clarified his statements regarding Sajjan Kumar's death, denying he ever referred to the former MP as a role model. He underscored his family's long-standing opposition to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, firmly reiterating their commitment to advocating for the rights and
1 days ago
A project in Assam to improve the quality of an elephant habitat could turn a botanical liability into a carbon-rich asset. For decades, Assam Forest Department officials have struggled to deal with at least half a dozen invasive alien plants (IAPs) that have been constricting local vegetation and
1 days ago
At a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Union ministers were handed report cards. They were not being assessed for their performance as ministers but on how active and effective they have been on social media. Each minister was ranked based on an evaluation of their social media presence between May 1
1 days ago
The Indian Overseas Congress USA Telangana Chapter voiced disappointment over denied political clearance for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's US trip. The Ministry of External Affairs cited the program's inappropriateness for the office held by the Chief Minister
1 days ago
Expressing her firm stance, Mayawati, the BSP chief, has rejected the idea of substituting caste-based reservations with economic ones, arguing that it would harm the broader national interest. She pointed to constitutional protections for historically marginalized groups and condemned Congress
1 days ago
Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatro Ki Goonj' program focused on young women in Pune. Congress leaders stated the program's message reached Delhi, causing visible panic. Supriya Shrinate highlighted the platform provided for women to voice their concerns. Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol criticized the program
1 days ago
Prime Minister Modi met the BJP's new national office-bearers, stressing public connection and organizational strength. The party announced a nationwide 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' from September 17 to October 17. This campaign aims to spread the spirit of service associated with Modi's public life
1 days ago
Sikh leaders protested outside Rahul Gandhi's residence on Saturday. They demanded an apology for Congress leaders' remarks about Sajjan Kumar. Sajjan Kumar, convicted in the 1984 riots, recently passed away. Protesters stated that such statements reopened old wounds for families
2 days ago
The Bharatiya Janata Party passed a resolution defending Vande Mataram's national status. This action strongly condemned the Congress Working Committee's recent decision regarding the song. The BJP affirmed the constitutional and statutory protection of the complete National Song
2 days ago
BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Saturday (August 22, 2026) held the first meeting with the party's newly appointed national office-bearers to discuss poll strategy and grassroots outreach, party sources said. The meeting focused on preparations for upcoming State Assembly elections
2 days ago
Two workers were killed and 11 others were injured in a reactor blast in a pharmaceutical firm in Dothigudem in Pochampally in Yadadri district late on Friday (August 21, 2026) night. The factory is about 50 km from Hyderabad. According to police officials
2 days ago
The Supreme Court has redefined the term 'industry' for new labor cases. This ruling will not affect past or pending cases under the old law. The Congress party expressed concern over this significant change. They believe it weakens essential safeguards for many workers
2 days ago
BJP MP Dharmendra Pradhan accused Congress of appeasement politics regarding the Vande Mataram song. He stated the party's true face has been exposed to the nation. West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar rejected these allegations from the BJP
2 days ago
Claiming that “rule of law” prevails in Bengal now with the new BJP government in power, Shah said the previous government did not implement BNS in Bengal so that they could promote cut money, syndicate raj and corruption. He praised CM Suvendu Adhikari who has fulfilled 43% of the poll
2 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged faster reforms and greater ease of living. He expressed confidence that a stable India will contribute to world stability. India has been an oasis of political stability amidst global fluctuations. The government is committed to uplifting the youth, farmers
2 days ago
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday asked the Union government to provide a legislative assurance that any state’s representation in Parliament will not reduce due to the delimitation exercise, The New Indian Express reported
2 days ago
Welcome to The India Fix by Shoaib Daniyal. A newsletter on Indian politics. As always, if you’ve been sent this newsletter and like it, to get it in your inbox every week, sign up here (click on “follow”). “I was never involved in corruption
2 days ago
A Congress delegation petitioned the Election Commission regarding voter list irregularities. They alleged eligible voters' names were struck off electoral rolls. People were declared absent and young individuals marked deceased without cause. Notices were not reaching recipients
3 days ago
Karnataka's Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged the Southern Zonal Council to retain the 1971 census for delimitation. He also requested maintaining the Lok Sabha's strength at 543 for the next twenty-five years. Shivakumar sought to accommodate women's quota within the existing strength without
3 days ago
Farmers in Karnataka's Cauvery basin intensified protests on Thursday, opposing water release to Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery Water Management Authority ordered Karnataka to release water, which Tamil Nadu seeks to enforce. Protesters questioned the decision
4 days ago
Journalist Tarun Tejpal, former editor of Tehelka magazine, on Thursday (August 20, 2026) appealed in the Supreme Court against the August 6, 2026, judgment of the Bombay High Court sentencing him to 10 years imprisonment in a 2013 rape case. His appeal comes as the State of Goa
4 days ago
