The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved India’s first twin-tube underwater rail-cum-road tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam at a cost of ₹18,662 crore. The ambitious 33.7-km corridor will feature a 15.79-km tunnel and a four-lane surface corridor, aimed at transforming connectivity across the state.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the decision as a “historic milestone” and thanked the Prime Minister and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for supporting the project. He described the tunnel as a strategic lifeline that would accelerate economic growth and improve regional trade and logistics.

Once operational, the corridor will cut the distance between Numaligarh and Gohpur from nearly 240 km to just 34 km, reducing travel time from six hours to approximately 20 minutes. The project is expected to enhance freight movement, lower transportation costs, and boost trade, tourism, and industrial development in northern and southern Assam.

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The underwater tunnel will become Assam’s fourth railway crossing over the Brahmaputra — joining the three existing bridges — and marks a significant milestone in rail and road infrastructure in the region. It is poised to strengthen the integration of the Northeast with the rest of India while providing a model for infrastructure-led development.

Terming the project a “game-changer” for Assam’s future, Sarma highlighted that the tunnel reflects the Centre’s commitment to boosting the state’s growth and connectivity. He noted that this long-cherished project, first envisioned in 2021, will give new “gati” to Assam’s development journey and unlock strategic opportunities for trade and tourism.

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