Atal Setu, the cable stayed bridge in Goa named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is built across which river?

Introduction / Context:
Bridges over major rivers are important landmarks in Indian transport geography and frequently feature in current affairs questions when they are inaugurated or renamed. Atal Setu in Goa is a cable stayed bridge named in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is part of a key road corridor and crosses one of the main rivers in Goa. This question checks whether students can correctly identify which river the bridge spans, linking infrastructure with river geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The structure is Atal Setu, a cable stayed bridge in Goa. - It is named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. - The options list Ganges, Mandovi, Mahanadi and Narmada. - Only one of these rivers flows through Goa and is associated with this bridge.

Concept / Approach:
Goa s two main rivers are the Mandovi and the Zuari. The capital city, Panaji, lies on the banks of the Mandovi, and several bridges cross this river to connect different parts of the state. Atal Setu is a modern cable stayed bridge built across the Mandovi to ease traffic and improve connectivity. The Ganges, Mahanadi and Narmada are large rivers in other parts of India and do not flow through Goa. The approach is therefore to recall basic river geography of Goa and connect Atal Setu with the Mandovi river.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting maps of Goa that show major road bridges and river crossings. Atal Setu is marked as a bridge on the Mandovi near Panaji. News articles covering its inauguration emphasise that it spans the Mandovi river and is part of the national highway network. No credible source links Atal Setu in Goa with the Ganges, Mahanadi or Narmada, which confirms Mandovi as the correct river.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Ganges is the most famous Indian river but lies far to the north and east and is unrelated to Goa s bridge network. The Mahanadi flows mainly through Chhattisgarh and Odisha and does not reach Goa. The Narmada flows westward through central India and empties into the Arabian Sea in Gujarat, not in Goa, and Atal Setu is not located on it. None of the above is incorrect because Mandovi is the only river among the options that passes through Goa and is crossed by Atal Setu.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates might choose the Ganges reflexively because it is the most familiar river name without paying attention to the state mentioned in the question. Others may confuse Atal Setu in Goa with bridges of similar names elsewhere in India. To avoid such mistakes, it is important to carefully note the state or location given in the question and to visualise a map of that region before answering.

Final Answer:
Atal Setu in Goa is built across the Mandovi river.