Aizawl: The newly inaugurated Lengtekai Bridge over the Tlawng river — officially named the Faith Bridge — is set to transform connectivity for Mizoram. Linking Aizawl city with the state’s lone Lengpui Airport and Mamit district bordering Tripura, the Rs 43.83 crore structure will ease travel, boost trade, and provide safer, uninterrupted transport for thousands of residents.Mizoram CM Lalduhoma inaugurated the bridge on Tuesday, describing it as a milestone in strengthening Mizoram’s core infrastructure. Measuring 100 metres in length and 7.5 metres in width, with 1.5-meter footpaths on both sides, the bridge is designed to carry loads up to 385 metric tons, replacing older Bailey structures that had limited capacity and suffered repeated damage.
The CM recalled challenges during the launching phase in Dec 2024, when pulley failure caused delays. After renewed technical preparations, the bridge was successfully positioned in April 2025, with finishing works completed in Sept 2025.Highlighting its strategic value, Lalduhoma said the bridge serves as a vital corridor for Mamit district, home to around 85,000 people across 90 villages. It supports agricultural initiatives such as the CM Rubber Mission, facilitates transport of sand resources from the Mizoram-Tripura border river Langkaih, and provides access to institutions like the National Institute of Technology Mizoram in Lengpui. The route also strengthens regional connectivity with Tripura and Bangladesh.Reiterating the govt’s principle of timely, quality infrastructure, Lalduhoma observed that Mizoram’s road density — about 46.37 km per 100 sq km, well below the national average — makes accelerated growth a priority. He expressed appreciation to Union minister for road transport & highways Nitin Gadkari and the central govt for their cooperation.Constructed by Poddar Infra Tech with design consultancy from Force Structural Engineering Pvt Ltd, proof consultancy by IIT Bombay, and safety oversight by Engineering Project Consultants, the bridge underwent strict quality assurance. Materials were continuously tested in an on-site laboratory, steel components fabricated in Rourkela were transported in sections, and specialized carbon steel tension rods from Thailand were used for the hanger system. Comprehensive load testing confirmed its operational safety for all classes of vehicles.
