Bajrang Setu is a glass suspension bridge being built over the Ganga in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Its current-affairs importance comes from two linked facts: it is described as India’s first glass suspension bridge, and it is replacing the historic Laxman Jhula. Laxman Jhula was one of Rishikesh’s best-known pedestrian and tourism landmarks, but the replacement project has been framed around safety, connectivity and a modern tourist experience. The opening timeline is December 2025, so exam preparation should treat it as a 2025 national current-affairs update on tourism, state economy and infrastructure.
The prelims facts are direct: location Rishikesh, state Uttarakhand, river Ganga, old bridge Laxman Jhula, and project name Bajrang Setu. The bridge is 132 metres long and 8 metres wide. It has a 5-metre steel deck for two-wheelers, glass footpaths of 1.5 metres on both sides for pedestrians, and 66-mm transparent glass that offers views of the Ganga below. This makes the project relevant both as an engineering update and as a tourism-linked infrastructure project.
For RAS and UPSC-style preparation, the issue should not be read only as a travel news item. It connects with urban tourism infrastructure, modern construction near heritage locations, public safety, the role of tourism in a state economy, and connectivity in river-based towns. For static GK, revise the Ganga, Rishikesh and Uttarakhand together on the map.