By: The Trek News Desk
In a major boost to infrastructure development in the Northeast, the Central Government has approved the construction of India’s first twin-tube underwater road-cum-rail tunnel in Assam. The ambitious project has been described as a “historic milestone” by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The approval was granted by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project will connect Gohpur and Numaligarh through a 33.7-kilometre four-lane corridor, including a 15.79-kilometre tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River. The total estimated cost of the project stands at ₹18,662 crore.
Expressing gratitude on the social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the project fulfils a vision first conceptualised in 2021. Once completed, the tunnel will drastically reduce the distance between Numaligarh and Gohpur from 240 kilometres to just 34 kilometres. Travel time is expected to drop significantly, from nearly six hours to around 20 minutes, bringing transformative connectivity benefits to the region.
According to Sarma, the tunnel will serve as a strategic lifeline for Assam and the wider Northeast, improving freight movement, lowering logistics costs, and opening new opportunities for trade, tourism, and industrial expansion. He also highlighted that this will be Assam’s fourth rail line crossing the Brahmaputra River, strengthening both passenger and cargo transportation networks.
The Chief Minister also thanked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for his support in advancing the project, stating that the initiative will significantly accelerate the state’s development journey.
Source: News Agencies
