Official UPSC Format

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?

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.

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

India maintains several strategic river bridges with its neighbors. The Maitri Setu connects Sabroom (India) to Ramgarh (Bangladesh) over the Feni River. The Jhulaghat and Mechi bridges connect India with Nepal over the Mahakali and Mechi rivers, respectively.

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option 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.

    🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    The examiner uses a "geographical inversion" trap in Statement 1 (swapping the Indian and Bangladeshi cities) and a "wrong neighbor" trap in Statement 2 (Myanmar instead of Nepal) to catch candidates who only memorize the bridge names.

    Active Recall Flashcard

    Tap to Flip

    Which two countries are connected by the Jhulaghat suspension bridge over the Mahakali River?

    India and Nepal.

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Maitri Setu
    Crosses
    Feni River
    Jhulaghat Bridge
    Connects India With
    Nepal
    Mechi Bridge
    Connects
    Panitanki and Kakarvitta

    Logic Quest

    "Why was the Maitri Setu constructed over the Feni River?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Strategic Border Infrastructure through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable International Relations questions for your upcoming Prelims.