Kolia Bhomora Bridge, more commonly called Kolia Bhomora Setu or Kalia Bhomora Setu, is a major road bridge across the Brahmaputra River near Tezpur in Assam. The original bridge connects Tezpur in Sonitpur district on the north bank with the Kaliabor side in Nagaon district on the south bank and forms part of National Highway 715.
The original pre-stressed concrete bridge is about 3.015 km long and was completed in 1987. For decades, it served as one of Assam’s most important permanent Brahmaputra crossings, carrying passenger vehicles, buses and commercial traffic between north-bank Assam, central Assam and routes leading towards Arunachal Pradesh.
Today, the crossing works as a twin-bridge corridor. A new parallel two-lane bridge of about 3.04 km was opened in 2022 as part of the four-laning of the Kaliabor Tiniali-Dolabari section. The additional bridge increased road capacity and allowed major repairs to be undertaken on the older structure.
Quick Overview of Kolia Bhomora Bridge
| Particular | Details |
| Name | Kolia Bhomora Bridge / Kolia Bhomora Setu |
| Common Alternate Spelling | Kalia Bhomora Setu / Kaliabhomora Bridge |
| Location | Near Tezpur, Assam |
| River | Brahmaputra River |
| Highway | NH-715 |
| Original Bridge Type | Pre-stressed concrete road bridge |
| Original Bridge Length | About 3.015 km |
| Original Bridge Completed | 1987 |
| Original Bridge Lanes | Two lanes |
| Parallel Bridge | New Kolia Bhomora / Bhomoraguri-Tezpur Bridge |
| Parallel Bridge Length | About 3.04 km |
| Parallel Bridge Opened | 2022 |
| Main Connection | Tezpur with Kaliabor |
| Nearby Areas | Tezpur, Bhomoraguri, Kaliabor, Jakhalabandha and Dolabari |
| Known For | Major Brahmaputra crossing and Tezpur-Kaliabor connectivity |
Where is Kolia Bhomora Bridge Located?
Kolia Bhomora Bridge crosses the Brahmaputra just south of Tezpur. The northern approach is in Sonitpur district, while the southern approach leads towards Kaliabor in Nagaon district.
The bridge is part of NH-715, the highway corridor running from Tezpur through Kaliabor and onward towards Jakhalabandha, Bokakhat and Jorhat. Its location makes it a key crossing for travellers moving between north-bank Assam and central or Upper Assam.
For visitors travelling from Tezpur towards Kaziranga National Park, the bridge is especially useful. The Assam Forest Department identifies the Kalia Bhomora crossing as the route linking Tezpur with Kaliabor, from where travellers continue through Jakhalabandha and the Kaziranga belt.
Kolia Bhomora Bridge Route and Road Connectivity
The bridge provides one of the most direct road links between Tezpur and the south bank of the Brahmaputra. A typical journey towards central Assam follows:
Tezpur -> Kolia Bhomora Bridge -> Kaliabor Tiniali -> Jakhalabandha -> Bokakhat / Kaziranga / Jorhat
- Tezpur: Main north-bank city and principal urban centre near the bridge.
- Kaliabor: Important south-bank connection and junction for onward NH-715 travel.
- Jakhalabandha: Major highway settlement on the route towards Kaziranga.
- Kaziranga National Park: Reached from Tezpur by crossing the bridge and continuing through Kaliabor and Jakhalabandha.
- Nagaon: Important central Assam city accessible through the wider south-bank road network.
- Bokakhat: Major Upper Assam town on the NH-715 route east of Kaziranga.
- Jorhat: Major Upper Assam city connected farther east along NH-715.
Why is Kolia Bhomora Bridge Important?
The Brahmaputra is one of India’s widest and most powerful river systems, and permanent crossings are crucial for road connectivity in Assam. Kolia Bhomora Setu gave Tezpur a dependable all-season road connection with the south bank and significantly improved travel towards Nagaon, Kaziranga and Upper Assam.
The bridge is also strategically important for movement towards Arunachal Pradesh. Tezpur is a major gateway to routes leading north and north-east, so the crossing supports passenger travel, tourism, trade and the movement of goods across the region.
Its role became even stronger after the parallel bridge was added. Together, the old and new structures form a broader four-lane river-crossing system within the upgraded Kaliabor Tiniali-Dolabari NH-715 corridor.
Traffic Conditions at Kolia Bhomora Bridge
Kolia Bhomora is a busy national-highway crossing rather than a local sightseeing bridge. It carries cars, buses, trucks and other long-distance traffic moving between Tezpur and the Kaliabor side.
Traffic pressure is influenced by tourist movement towards Kaziranga, commercial traffic on NH-715, seasonal travel and road works on either bridge. The parallel bridge has increased capacity and provides more flexibility when maintenance is required on the older structure.
In 2022, the new bridge was opened to traffic while the old Kolia Bhomora Setu was temporarily closed for major repairs involving the road surface, footpaths, side railings and other elements. The old structure later returned to road use, as shown by subsequent traffic and accident reporting.
History and the Name Kolia Bhomora Setu
The bridge is named after Ahom general Kalia Bhomora Borphukan, who is remembered in Assam for having envisioned a bridge across the Brahmaputra in this region during the Ahom period.
The modern bridge was built during the 1980s and completed in 1987. It was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and became one of the major engineering landmarks of Assam.
The name appears in several spellings, including Kolia Bhomora, Kalia Bhomora and Kaliabhomora. They refer to the same historic Tezpur-Kaliabor bridge.
Engineering and the Parallel New Bridge
The original Kolia Bhomora Setu is a pre-stressed concrete road bridge about 3.015 km long. It was designed as a two-lane crossing with repeated long concrete spans over the Brahmaputra.
As traffic increased, NHIDCL developed a new parallel bridge as part of the 17.3 km four-laning project between Kaliabor Tiniali and Dolabari. NHIDCL lists the completed scheme as including a new Brahmaputra bridge alongside the existing Kaliabhomora Bridge on NH-715.
The new bridge is approximately 3.04 km long and was opened to vehicular traffic in 2022. The two structures now operate as a paired crossing, increasing road capacity and reducing the need to depend on a single bridge during maintenance.
Safety and Driving Considerations
Because the bridge is a long national-highway crossing over the Brahmaputra, safe driving is especially important. Drivers should maintain lane discipline, avoid overspeeding and should not stop on the carriageway for photographs.
Safety concerns are not merely theoretical. In May 2025, police reported that an overspeeding truck travelling from Tezpur towards Nagaon lost control, broke through the side railing and fell into the Brahmaputra. One body was recovered during the rescue operation.
The incident followed several earlier crashes reported on the bridge over the years. For this reason, motorists should treat the crossing as an active highway structure rather than a viewing point, even though the Brahmaputra scenery is attractive.
Kolia Bhomora Bridge and the Kaziranga Route
One of the bridge’s most useful tourism roles is its connection between Tezpur and Kaziranga National Park.
The Assam Forest Department’s official access guidance states that travellers from Tezpur cross the Brahmaputra at Kalia Bhomora to reach Kaliabor. From Kaliabor, the route continues towards Jakhalabandha, Burapahar, Bagori and Kohora in the Kaziranga landscape.
This makes the bridge useful for travellers combining Tezpur with Kaziranga, as well as for those travelling between Arunachal Pradesh-side routes and Assam’s major wildlife destinations.
Future Highway Development Around Kaliabor
The wider NH-715 corridor is continuing to change. In October 2025, the Union Cabinet approved four-laning and improvement of the 85.675 km Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715, including major wildlife-friendly infrastructure through the Kaziranga landscape.
The project is separate from Kolia Bhomora Bridge itself, but it is highly relevant to the bridge corridor because vehicles crossing from Tezpur towards Kaliabor will feed into this upgraded highway.
As this work progresses, the Tezpur-Kaliabor crossing is expected to remain an important gateway into the upgraded NH-715 route through central and Upper Assam.
Public Transport Near Kolia Bhomora Bridge
The bridge is primarily a highway crossing, so most public transport uses it as part of longer road routes rather than stopping on the bridge itself. Buses, shared vehicles, taxis and private cars operate between Tezpur, Kaliabor, Nagaon and other destinations.
For rail travel, Dekargaon is the main railway station serving the Tezpur area. Northeast Frontier Railway continues to identify Dekargaon as an active railway facility and is also studying future Tezpur-Silghat rail connectivity, including another Brahmaputra crossing.
Tezpur Airport at Salonibari provides air access to the city, while road transport is required for the final journey to the bridge.
Major Landmarks and Places Near Kolia Bhomora Bridge
- Brahmaputra River: The defining natural feature crossed by the bridge.
- Tezpur city: Major cultural, commercial and transport centre on the north bank.
- Agnigarh: Well-known Tezpur hill and heritage attraction.
- Chitralekha Udyan: Popular public garden and recreational landmark in Tezpur.
- Kaliabor Tiniali: Important junction on the south-bank side.
- Kaziranga National Park route: Major tourism corridor reached through Kaliabor and Jakhalabandha.
- Dekargaon Railway Station: Main rail access point for the Tezpur area.
Nearby Areas to Kolia Bhomora Bridge
- Tezpur: Main city on the northern side of the bridge.
- Bhomoraguri: Locality associated with the south-bank bridge approach.
- Kaliabor: Major junction area on the southern side of the Brahmaputra.
- Dolabari: Important Tezpur-side locality on the four-laned corridor.
- Jakhalabandha: Highway town south-east of Kaliabor and a key route point towards Kaziranga.
- Nagaon: Major district centre accessible through the south-bank highway network.
FAQs About Kolia Bhomora Bridge
Q1. Is Kolia Bhomora Bridge the same as Kalia Bhomora Setu?
Yes. Kolia Bhomora Setu, Kalia Bhomora Setu and Kaliabhomora Bridge are commonly used spelling variants for the same historic Tezpur-Kaliabor Brahmaputra crossing.
Q2. Is the new parallel bridge a replacement for the old Kolia Bhomora Setu?
No. It was built alongside the existing bridge to increase capacity. The new bridge allowed the older structure to undergo major repairs and together they form a broader road crossing.
Q3. Can travellers use Kolia Bhomora Bridge to reach Kaziranga from Tezpur?
Yes. The established road route crosses the Brahmaputra at Kalia Bhomora, reaches Kaliabor and then continues through Jakhalabandha towards the Kaziranga range areas.
Q4. Can motorists stop on the bridge for photographs?
The bridge carries active national-highway traffic, so stopping on the carriageway for photographs should be avoided. Scenic views are better enjoyed from safe locations away from moving traffic.
Q5. Is Kolia Bhomora Bridge a rail-cum-road bridge?
No. It is a road bridge. Railway services do not use the structure.
Q6. Why are there two bridges side by side now?
The original 1987 bridge had only two lanes and required major maintenance after decades of service. A parallel bridge was therefore built as part of the four-laning of the Kaliabor Tiniali-Dolabari corridor to increase capacity and improve traffic management.
