New Delhi/Dispur, February 14: In a landmark decision set to transform connectivity in Northeast India, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of India’s first road-cum-rail underwater tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam. The ambitious project, estimated to cost ₹18,662 crore, is expected to revolutionise transportation, strengthen strategic infrastructure, and accelerate economic growth across the region.
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The project involves the construction of a 33.7-kilometre, four-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor connecting Gohpur on National Highway-15 with Numaligarh on National Highway-715. Its most significant feature is a 15.79-kilometre twin-tube tunnel built using advanced Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology beneath the Brahmaputra River. In a first for India, one of the twin tunnel tubes will also accommodate railway infrastructure, making it a unique multi-modal transport corridor.
At present, commuters travelling between Gohpur and Numaligarh must cover nearly 240 kilometres via the Kaliabhomora Bridge, a journey that typically takes around six hours. Once completed, the new corridor is expected to reduce travel time substantially, improve freight movement, lower logistics costs, and provide faster, more reliable connectivity between northern and southern Assam.
The alignment has been strategically planned to integrate with key national highways, railway lines under the Northeast Frontier Railway, airports, inland waterways, industrial centres, and important tourist destinations, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park. The project is also expected to enhance connectivity with neighbouring states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and the wider Northeast region.
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Welcoming the approval, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the project as a historic milestone for the state and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for their continued support. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also hailed the project as a transformative initiative that would strengthen national security, improve regional connectivity, and advance the Centre’s Act East policy.
Officials estimate that the project will generate nearly 80 lakh person-days of employment during construction while creating long-term economic opportunities through improved transport infrastructure, trade, tourism, and industrial development across Northeast India.
