Permanent Pictorial Cancellation inaugural day covers

Description: Saraighat, located near Guwahati on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, is the site of the Saraighat Bridge, a combined rail-and-road structure of major historical and engineering importance. It was the first permanent bridge constructed across the Brahmaputra in Assam, playing a vital role in physically integrating North-East India with the rest of the country. The concept of a bridge over the Brahmaputra was proposed in 1910, though systematic planning began only during World War II after the strategic importance of dependable surface transport to the region was recognised. Following stabilisation of the railway alignment between Bongaigaon and Amingaon, the project received approval in the 1958 Budget Session of the Parliament of India. Construction commenced in 1959 and was carried out by Hindustan Construction Company and BBJ Construction, with completion in 1962 at an estimated cost of ₹106 million. 

The Saraighat Bridge is a double-deck structure, carrying a railway line on the lower deck and a two-lane roadway with footpaths on the upper deck. It has a total length of approximately 1,298 metres and stands about 40 feet above the river’s normal flood level, allowing uninterrupted navigation. Rail traffic began on 23 September 1962, followed by the opening of the road deck to vehicular traffic in March 1963. Named after the historic Battle of Saraighat (1671), led by General Lachit Borphukan against the Mughal forces, the bridge commemorates a defining moment in Assam’s history. Due to increasing traffic and ageing infrastructure, major repairs were undertaken in 2019. To meet growing demand, the New Saraighat Bridge was inaugurated nearby in January 2017, further strengthening connectivity across the Brahmaputra.