33.7-km corridor with 15.79-km tunnel to slash travel time to 20 minutes and boost Northeast connectivity
Guwahati: The Union Cabinet has approved India’s first twin-tube underwater road-cum-rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam, marking a historic step for connectivity and infrastructure development in the Northeast.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the ambitious 33.7-km four-lane corridor will connect Gohpur and Numaligarh, including a 15.79-km tunnel running beneath the river, at an estimated cost of Rs 18,662 crore.
Describing the approval as a milestone moment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the project fulfils a long-standing vision first conceptualised in 2021 and will act as a strategic lifeline for the state and the entire region. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for supporting the initiative.
Once completed, the tunnel will reduce the current travel distance from 240 km to just 34 km and cut journey time by nearly 95 per cent, from six hours to around 20 minutes. It is also expected to enhance freight efficiency, lower logistics costs, and ease both passenger and goods movement.
Officials noted that the project will strengthen border connectivity, boost trade and tourism, and generate nearly 80 lakh human-days of employment during construction. It will also become Assam’s fourth railway crossing over the Brahmaputra, joining three existing bridges and adding a crucial new underground link.
The tunnel is set to significantly accelerate Assam’s development journey and reinforce the Northeast’s role as a gateway to the Act East policy.
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