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 ?

The correct answer is Option D (3 only).

Statement 3 is correct: The Mechi Bridge, built over the trans-boundary Mechi River, connects the Panitanki bypass in West Bengal, India, with Kakarvitta (Kakadbhitta) in Nepal. Constructed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) and supported by an Asian Development Bank loan, the bridge serves as a critical link on the Asian Highway 02 (AH02) to enhance Indo-Nepal cross-border trade.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The 'Maitri Setu' (Friendship Bridge) is a 1.9-kilometre bridge over the Feni River, inaugurated in March 2021. However, the statement swaps the towns' respective countries: it actually connects Sabroom in Tripura, India, with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. This infrastructure strategically provides landlocked Northeast India with access to Bangladesh's Chittagong Port.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Jhulaghat suspension bridge connects India with Nepal, not Myanmar. Spanning the Kali (Mahakali) River, this historic bridge acts as a vital pedestrian border crossing between the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India, and Nepal's Sudurpashchim province.

Takeaway: When studying India's border infrastructure, precisely memorize the connecting towns, the neighboring country, and the natural river boundary: Maitri Setu (Sabroom-Ramgarh via Feni River; India-Bangladesh), Jhulaghat (Pithoragarh-Nepal via Kali River; India-Nepal), and Mechi Bridge (Panitanki-Kakarvitta via Mechi River; India-Nepal).