Constructed on a decommissioned Bailey bridge over the Nyamjang Chu River, Border Brew Café is set to boost tourism and livelihood
Imagine sipping your favourite Cappuccino sitting right in the middle of a hill station bridge. This isn’t another adventure sports, it is a real Café on the bridge.
In a move aimed at boosting tourism and livelihoods in remote border areas, the
Indian Army has inaugurated the Border Brew Café in Zemithang,Arunachal Pradesh under Operation Sadbhavna.
The café stands out for its unusual setting. It has been constructed on a decommissioned Bailey bridge over the Nyamjang Chu River.
The adaptive reuse of the bridge combines legacy infrastructure with a functional tourism space, making it a first-of-its-kind concept in the
Northeast.
Run by tribal women, powered by local stories
Designed to promote
sustainable tourism, the project also focuses on community participation.
The café is run by local Monpa tribal community women, creating employment opportunities while offering visitors a glimpse into the region’s culture and hospitality.
The structure has been built to maximise its natural surroundings. Large glass panels open up to views of the surrounding
mountains and river, while visitors can choose between seating on the bridge or along the riverbank.
Officials said the project was completed in 31 days, reflecting coordinated planning and execution. It is part of Operation Sadbhavna, which focuses on socio-economic development, skill-building and strengthening civil-military relations in border regions.
Aiming to boost tourism in remote border region
The inauguration saw participation from local residents,
Army personnel and officials, marking what is being seen as a step towards developing tourism in the region.
Located in Tawang district, Zemithang remains one of the lesser-explored areas of the state despite its scenic landscape and strategic importance.
Under #OpSadbhavna, the Indian Army has established Border Brew Café at Jemithang, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Northeast India.
Constructed on a decommissioned Bailey Bridge over Ngyamjang Chu, the cafe will support local communities and strengthen tourism in #Arunachal. pic.twitter.com/GJKCNLdJSb
— MyGov Arunachal Pradesh (@MyGovArunachal) March 19, 2026
The café project follows similar outreach efforts by the Army in the region. Earlier in March, a month-long bakery training programme was conducted in Menchuka to equip local residents with skills in bread-making, cake preparation, pastry production and food hygiene.
Together, these initiatives are aimed at creating sustainable livelihood options while gradually opening up remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh to
tourism.
End of Article
An aspiring globetrotter, Arpita Chowdhury is a writer, poet, and researcher with a strong grounding in human-interest storytelling. She holds an MA in Journalism and International Affairs from University College Dublin, completed in collaboration with the CNN Academy.
Her reporting and commentary have appeared in several national and international dailies, spanning travel, culture, politics, and people-centric narratives. Powered by adrak chai, she is always chasing stories that connect place with people. Reach her at arpita.chowdhury2@nw18.com
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