India is set to build its first underwater road-rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam after a key central government panel accorded approval to the ambitious infrastructure project, according to official sources.
The proposed tunnel, a first of its kind in the country, will connect Numaligarh in Golaghat district on the south bank of the Brahmaputra with Gohpur in Sonitpur district on the north bank. Designed as a twin-tube tunnel, it will accommodate both road traffic and railway movement, significantly improving connectivity between northern and southern Assam.
Officials said the project has cleared technical and inter-ministerial evaluations, marking a major step towards implementation. Once completed, the tunnel is expected to drastically reduce travel time between the two banks of the river—from several hours via existing road routes to around 30 minutes.
The tunnel will run approximately 30–35 metres below the riverbed and is being planned with advanced safety and engineering features to withstand high water pressure and seismic activity in the region. Separate tubes are proposed for road and rail traffic to ensure smooth and safe operations.
Apart from improving civilian connectivity, the project is considered strategically important. It is expected to facilitate faster movement of defence personnel and equipment to border areas in the Northeast, particularly Arunachal Pradesh, while also strengthening logistics and emergency response capabilities.
Economically, the tunnel is likely to boost trade, tourism and industrial growth by easing transportation bottlenecks across the Brahmaputra, which currently relies heavily on bridges and ferry services. Improved connectivity is also expected to benefit local communities and promote balanced regional development.
The project is estimated to cost several thousand crore rupees. While the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared, final decisions on funding patterns, execution agencies and construction timelines are awaited.
Once built, the underwater tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra will stand as a landmark engineering achievement and a major milestone in India’s efforts to modernise infrastructure in the Northeast.
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