India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of the country’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under River Brahmaputra in the state of Assam.
The infrastructure project, which includes a 15.79km tunnel, will form part of a 33.7km four-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor connecting Gohpur on National Highway 15 to Numaligarh on NH-715.
According to a release from the CCEA, the total capital cost for the development is estimated at Rs186.62bn ($1.96bn) and will be carried out through an Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model.
At present, travel between Gohpur and Numaligarh relies on a 240-kilometre route via the Kaliabhambhora road bridge near Silghat on NH-52, a journey that can take up to six hours and passes through Kaziranga National Park and Biswanath Town.
By introducing the new tunnel and access-controlled corridor, the project aims to significantly reduce journey times and increase transport efficiency throughout the region, particularly for Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other states in north-east India.
“This will enhance the efficiency of freight movement, reducing logistics cost and driving socio-economic growth in the region,” the CCEA said.
The approved alignment will provide connectivity to two major national highways, NH-15 and NH-715, and two railway lines: the Rangia-Mukongselek section under Rangia Division and the Furkating-Mariani loop line under Tinsukia Division of Northeast Frontier Railway.
Integration with other transport hubs is included in the plan, linking 11 economic nodes, three social nodes, two tourist nodes and eight logistics nodes.
The tunnel will also enhance access to four major railway stations, two airports and two inland waterways, supporting the movement of goods and passengers throughout the region.
The project is expected to generate around eight million person-days of direct and indirect employment.
CCEA said: “Upon completion, the project will play a pivotal role in strategic considerations, regional economic growth, strengthening connectivity between major economic centres and opening new avenues for trade and industrial development.”
