Official Question UPSC 2026
Consider the following statements about river bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries: 1. 'Maitri Setu', built over Feni river, connects Ramgarh in India with Sabroom in Bangladesh. 2. Jhulaghat suspension bridge connects India with Myanmar. 3. Mechi bridge and its approaches connect Panitanki Bypass in India with Kakarvitta in Nepal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Evaluating the border infrastructure based on Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) geographical data:
•Statement 1 is Incorrect: The examiner deployed a "city-swap" trap. While 'Maitri Setu' (Friendship Bridge) does span the Feni River between the two nations, it connects Sabroom in India (Tripura) with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, not the other way around.
•Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Jhulaghat suspension bridge does not connect to Myanmar. Spanning the Mahakali River (known as the Sharda River in India), it serves as a vital cross-border pedestrian link between the Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, India, and the Baitadi district in Nepal.
•Statement 3 is Correct: The Mechi Bridge, constructed over the Mechi River, accurately connects the Panitanki Bypass in West Bengal, India, with Kakarvitta in Nepal. This bridge is a critical commercial artery and forms the endpoint of Asian Highway 02 (AH02) within Indian territory.
Conclusion: Only statement 3 provides completely accurate geographic data.