India’s First Underwater Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel: Assam Set to Make History with ₹18,662 Crore Mega Corridor
India is preparing to enter a new era of infrastructure development with the approval of its first-ever underwater road-cum-rail tunnel, to be built beneath the mighty Brahmaputra River in Assam. Valued at ₹18,662 crore, this ambitious project will connect Gohpur and Numaligarh, dramatically improving connectivity across the Northeast and reshaping the region’s economic future.
Once completed, the corridor is expected to slash travel time, reduce logistics costs, strengthen regional trade, and generate around 80 lakh person-days of employment. For Assam and neighboring northeastern states, this project is being seen as a transformational leap rather than just another transport link.
A Historic First for India
The approved project will be India’s first underwater tunnel that carries both road and rail traffic. Globally, such projects are extremely rare, and officials note that this will be only the second underwater tunnel of its kind in the world combining road and rail in a single structure.
Built under the wide and powerful Brahmaputra, the tunnel represents a major engineering achievement. The river, known for its strong currents, shifting sediments, and seasonal flooding, has long posed challenges for bridges and ferries. An underwater tunnel avoids many of these surface-level disruptions, offering year-round reliability.
Why This Tunnel Matters So Much
At present, travel between Numaligarh and Gohpur covers nearly 240 kilometers and takes around six hours. The existing route passes through Kaziranga National Park and Biswanath town, areas that are environmentally sensitive and often congested.
The new corridor will:
Cut travel time drastically
Reduce pressure on Kaziranga’s protected ecosystem
Provide a faster, safer, and more direct route
This makes the tunnel not just an infrastructure project, but also an environment-friendly solution that balances development with conservation.
Multi-Modal Corridor: More Than Just a Tunnel
The underwater tunnel is the centerpiece of a four-lane, access-controlled greenfield corridor linking NH-15 at Gohpur with NH-715 at Numaligarh. What makes this project special is its multi-modal design, which integrates several transport systems into one seamless network.
Key Connectivity Features:
Links 11 economic nodes
Connects 3 social infrastructure nodes
Integrates 2 tourist hubs
Supports 8 logistics and freight centers
Connects to 4 major railway stations
Provides access to 2 airports
Links with 2 inland waterways
This design ensures that goods and passengers can move smoothly across different transport modes, reducing delays and improving efficiency.
Strategic Boost for the Northeast
Officials state that the project will benefit not only Assam, but also Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and other northeastern states.
The Northeast has long faced challenges due to difficult terrain, long travel distances, and limited transport infrastructure. This tunnel will act as a strategic connector, enabling faster movement of:
Agricultural produce
Petroleum and refinery products
Manufactured goods
Construction materials
Passengers and tourists
By improving access to markets and ports, the corridor is expected to integrate the Northeast more closely with India’s national economy.
Technical and Financial Highlights
The Union Cabinet has approved the project under the Engineering–Procurement–Construction (EPC) model, which places responsibility for design, construction, and delivery on the contractor, ensuring better accountability and timely completion.
Project Snapshot
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Project type | Underwater road-cum-rail tunnel |
| River crossed | Brahmaputra |
| Total cost | ₹18,662 crore |
| Tunnel length | 15.79 km |
| Existing route | ~240 km |
| Travel time now | ~6 hours |
| Estimated employment | ~80 lakh person-days |
The 15.79 km tunnel will run beneath the riverbed, engineered to withstand water pressure, seismic activity, and sediment movement.
Economic Impact: Jobs, Trade, and Growth
One of the most significant outcomes of the project is employment generation. Government estimates suggest around 80 lakh person-days of work, including both direct construction jobs and indirect employment in allied sectors such as logistics, cement, steel, machinery, and services.
Beyond jobs, the corridor is expected to:
Lower logistics costs for industries
Attract new investments in manufacturing and warehousing
Encourage the growth of industrial clusters
Improve income opportunities for local communities
Districts along the corridor are likely to see faster urban development, better access to education and healthcare, and improved quality of life.
Strengthening National and Strategic Connectivity
From a strategic perspective, the tunnel strengthens India’s infrastructure backbone in a region close to international borders. Faster and more reliable connectivity improves disaster response, supply movement, and administrative reach.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has highlighted that such projects are essential for building resilient transport networks that can support long-term national growth.
A New Chapter for Assam and the Northeast
For decades, the Brahmaputra has been both a lifeline and a barrier for Assam. This underwater tunnel symbolically and practically transforms that challenge into an opportunity. It reflects India’s growing confidence in executing complex engineering projects and its commitment to balanced regional development.
When operational, the Gohpur–Numaligarh underwater road-cum-rail tunnel will not just shorten distances—it will bring the Northeast closer to the rest of India, unlock new economic possibilities, and stand as a landmark achievement in the country’s infrastructure journey.
In many ways, this tunnel is not just passing under a river—it is paving the way for a stronger, more connected future for the Northeast.
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